Trends of Self-Care Remedies among the Patients with Dental Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52206/jsmc.2024.14.4.876Abstract
Background: The recent trend of self-care remedies and self-medication for dental pain is influenced by various factors. The use of self-care medications and remedies among the public, without fearing the adverse effects has increased since the outbreak of the pandemic of Covid-19.
Objectives: Objectives was to evaluate the trends of self-care remedies among patients with dental pain, side effects, potentiating factors for self-medication, and awareness of patients towards it.
Materials and Methods: A cross section study was conducted in 2022 on patients with dental pain over six months. Pre-validated questionnaire using a convenience sampling technique was used for data collection. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22 and results were presented in the form of percentage and frequency.
Results: A total of 340 participants were included with the mean age of 36.11+11.69. A slight predominance of females 56.8% as compared to males 43.2% was found. Self-medication was prevalent being more common in 3rd decade of life. Most of the participants (57.4%) used antibiotics and analgesics in combination for the relief of dental pain followed by cloves (41.8%). The main reasons for self-medication were temporary relief (81.2%), lack of time (31.5%) and costly dental procedures (24.7%). Pharmacists were the chief source of information for people who do self-medication.
Conclusion: Self-medication was prevalent in 3rd decade of life with a predilection for females. Lack of time, the high cost of treatment/dental procedures, and temporary relief were the main reasons for self-medication and pharmacists was the mainly knowledge sources.
Keywords: Dental pain, Home medications, Home Remedies, OTC drugs, Self-care, Self-medication.
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