Objective: To determine the attitude of consumers of Karachi towards over the counter and herbal-medicines.
Methodology: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Karachi from July 2017 to June 2018. Sample size of 228 was determined by precision analysis technique and 228 questionnaires were collected. Descriptive & inferential statistics were used to analyze and interpret variables by SPSS 22.
Results: The attitude of residents of Karachi towards over the counter and herbal-medicines was unperceivable. Out of 228 respondents, 97 943%) were aware of over the counter drugs. Out of these, 133 (58%) visited sometimes to doctors for their illness and 79 (34.6%) relied on word of mouth. Female and respondents of age 20-40 years were significantly better sources for medicinal information (p=0.024). No significant association was noted with age, gender, marital status and occupation with frequency of visits to the doctors, practice and awareness about side effects of herbal-medicines.
Conclusion: General population of Karachi were found to take over the counter and herbal-medicines with lack of knowledge. This is potentiating the need of necessary measures to control public health issues related with inappropriate use of these agents.
Key words: OTC drugs, herbal medicines, attitudes, awareness, side effects, public health.
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