Knowledge, Attitude and Practices about Medicines: A Cross Sectional Study in Maharashtra

The present cross sectional study was conducted to explore the knowledge, attitude and practices about medicines among adolescents from Maharashtra. A multiple choice questionnaire was used to gather the data from 200 adolescents of age 14-20 years and attending the schools in various cities of Maharashtra. It was observed that 3.58% of adolescents were in the favor of self-medication and 84% of the study population affirmed that they will prefer to receive the medication through physician consultation. Surprisingly, 49.16% of students believed that size of the tablet affects its efficacy. Fifty percent of students accepted that medicine color and shape affect the efficacy of medicines. Furthermore, 86% of respondents believed that it is necessary to share social habits with the physician during the consultation and prior to prescription. It was also agreed by the adolescents that it is necessary to consult the physician before the consumption of any medicine by pregnant women. 77% of students knew that medicine can be harmful and all the medicines are not suitable for children and harmness is reduced by the physician consultation (73%). The study concludes that adolescents selected from several cities of Maharashtra have fundamental knowledge, positive attitude and good practices about medicines. However, the positive attitude of adolescents, awareness with respect to mis-beliefs about medicine and its rational use is desirable.