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Teo BHK, Au Eong JTW, Au Eong KG. Steroid-induced glaucoma: an avoidable cause of irreversible blindness. Drug Ther Bull 2024:dtb.2024.e254709rep. [PMID: 38857949 DOI: 10.1136/dtb.2024.e254709rep] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H K Teo
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Kah Guan Au Eong
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- International Eye Cataract Retina Centre, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre and Farrer Park Medical Centre, Singapore
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore
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Mikhail E, Mohebbi M, Gokhale M, Azizoglu S, Suphioglu C. Development and validation of a health practitioner survey on ocular allergy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9932. [PMID: 38689009 PMCID: PMC11061311 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60837-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Survey studies have played a significant role in understanding the gaps in the knowledge and practices of health practitioners. However, there have been no such survey studies on Ocular Allergy (OA). Thus, the purpose of this study was to develop and validate a survey on OA to better understand the gaps in the diagnostic, treatment, and collaborative care approaches of health practitioners in OA. The survey is titled "Survey on Ocular Allergy for Health Practitioners (SOAHP)". SOAHP was developed in a five-stage process. First, item extraction via the use of a literature review, second, face and content validity, third, a pilot study, fourth, test-retest reliability, and fifth, finalisation of the survey. 65 items under 6 domains were initially generated in the item extraction phase. Content validity was conducted on 15 experts in the field. This was conducted twice to reach consensus whereby items and domains were added, edited, kept, or removed, resulting in 50 items under 7 domains. The pilot study was conducted on 15 participants from the five relevant health practitioner fields (Allergists/Immunologists, General Practitioners (GPs), Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Pharmacists). This altered the survey further to 40 items under 7 domains. Test-retest reliability was conducted on 25 participants from the five health practitioner fields. Reliability was moderate to almost perfect for most (97%) investigated items. The finalised survey was 40 items under 7 domains. SOAHP is the first survey created to assess diagnostic, treatment and collaborative care approaches of Allergists/Immunologists, GPs, Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Pharmacists on OA. SOAHP will be a useful tool in clinical research on OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ereeny Mikhail
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia.
- Deakin Optometry, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia.
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia.
| | - Mohammadreza Mohebbi
- Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Moneisha Gokhale
- Deakin Optometry, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Serap Azizoglu
- Deakin Optometry, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Cenk Suphioglu
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
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Teo BHK, Au Eong JTW, Au Eong KG. Steroid-induced glaucoma: an avoidable cause of irreversible blindness. BMJ Case Rep 2023; 16:e254709. [PMID: 37666571 PMCID: PMC10481737 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-254709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A man in his 70s on regular follow-up with an ophthalmologist for 10 years presented with blurry vision in his right eye for 4 days. He was diagnosed with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) bilaterally 18 months earlier and treated with antiglaucoma eye-drops. On direct questioning, he admitted to using fixed combination tobramycin 0.3%/dexamethasone 0.1% eye-drops frequently to relieve ocular redness and discomfort in both eyes for 3.5 years without his ophthalmologist's knowledge. Examination disclosed markedly elevated IOP, advanced optic disc cupping and tunnel vision due to steroid-induced glaucoma bilaterally. After cessation of the eye-drops and 2 weeks of antiglaucoma therapy, his IOP returned to normal and his visual field remained stable for 4 years.Our case highlights the danger of habitual self-treatment of prescription medications containing corticosteroids and the importance of taking a detailed medication history in the diagnosis and management of steroid-induced glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H K Teo
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Kah Guan Au Eong
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- International Eye Cataract Retina Centre, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre and Farrer Park Medical Centre, Singapore
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore
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Paterson T, Azizoglu S, Gokhale M, Chambers M, Suphioglu C. Preserved Ophthalmic Anti-Allergy Medication in Cumulatively Increasing Risk Factors of Corneal Ectasia. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1036. [PMID: 37508465 PMCID: PMC10376818 DOI: 10.3390/biology12071036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of allergies is rising every year. For those who suffer from it, ocular inflammation and irritation can be inconvenient and unpleasant. Anti-allergy eyedrops are a readily available treatment for symptoms of ocular allergy (OA) and can help allergy sufferers regain normal function. However, the eye is a delicate organ, and multiuse eyedrops often utilise preservatives to deter microbial growth. Preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride (BAK) have been shown to induce decreased cell viability. Therefore, during a period of high localised inflammation and eye rubbing, it is important that the preservatives used in topical medicines do not contribute to the weakening of the corneal structure. This review explores ocular allergy and the thinning and protrusion of the cornea that is characteristic of the disease keratoconus (KC) and how it relates to a weakened corneal structure. It also describes the use of BAK and its documented effects on the integrity of the cornea. It was found that atopy and eye rubbing are significant risk factors for KC, and BAK can severely decrease the integrity of the corneal structure when compared to other preservatives and preservative-free alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Paterson
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences (LES), Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE), Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Serap Azizoglu
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences (LES), Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE), Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
- Deakin Optometry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Moneisha Gokhale
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences (LES), Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE), Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
- Deakin Optometry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Madeline Chambers
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences (LES), Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE), Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Cenk Suphioglu
- NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory (NARL), School of Life and Environmental Sciences (LES), Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE), Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
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Ge P, Li Q, Dong M, Niu Y, Han X, Xiong P, Bao Y, Min H, Liu D, Wang S, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Yu W, Sun X, Yu L, Wu Y. Self-medication in Chinese residents and the related factors of whether or not they would take suggestions from medical staff as an important consideration during self-medication. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1074559. [PMID: 36620260 PMCID: PMC9814121 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1074559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the status of Chinese residents' self-medication behavior and the important factors to consider when purchasing OTC drugs, and to explore the related factors of the possibility that Chinese residents take medical staff's suggestions as important factors to consider when purchasing OTC drugs. Study design A cross-sectional survey. Methods A questionnaire was developed for exploring the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents, their self-medication status, and important considerations. The questionnaire includes several scales including Health Literacy Scale-Short Form (HLS-SF), EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (EQ-5D-VAS), Big Five Inventary-10 Items (BFI-10), and New General Self Efficacy Scale (NGSES). After carrying out a multi-stage sampling method, the questionnaire was conducted nationwide from July 10 to September 15, 2021. Next, descriptive statistics were conducted to analyze the general features. Logistic regression was then used to analyze the related factors of the possibility that the respondents took the suggestions of medical staff as an important consideration when purchasing OTC drugs. Results Nine thousand two hundred fifty-six qualified questionnaires were received. 99.06% of Chinese adults had self-medication behaviors. The types of OTC drugs purchased most by the respondents were NSAIDs (5,421/9,256 people, 58.57%) and vitamins/minerals (4,851/9,256 people, 52.41%). 86.2% of the respondents took the suggestions of medical staff as an important consideration when purchasing OTC drugs. The results of multi-factor logistic regression showed that women, those living in the central and western regions of China, those suffering from chronic diseases, those with high agreeableness, high conscientiousness, high neuroticism and openness, high health literacy, high EQ-5D-VAS, and those with high self-efficacy are more likely to take medical staff's suggestions as important factors to consider. Conclusion The vast majority of Chinese adults have self-medication behavior. Important considerations when purchasing OTC drugs include medical staff's suggestions, drug safety and drug efficacy. Whether residents take the suggestions of medical staff as an important consideration is related to their sociological characteristics, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness, health literacy, self-assessment health status, and self-efficacy. When purchasing and using OTC drugs, residents should carefully listen to the suggestions from medical staff. They should also carefully consider their own conditions before buying OTC drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu Ge
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Qiyu Li
- School of Humanities and Health Management, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Murong Dong
- Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yuyao Niu
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Xiao Han
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sat University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Ping Xiong
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Yuhan Bao
- Health Clinic, Changzhou Institute of Technology, Changzhou, China
| | - Hewei Min
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Diyue Liu
- International School of Public Health and One Health, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Suqi Wang
- School of Philosophy, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Jinzi Zhang
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ziwei Zhang
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenli Yu
- School of Foreign Languages, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang, China
| | - Xinying Sun
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lian Yu
- School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China,*Correspondence: Lian Yu ✉
| | - Yibo Wu
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China,Yibo Wu ✉
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Baracaldo-Santamaría D, Trujillo-Moreno MJ, Pérez-Acosta AM, Feliciano-Alfonso JE, Calderon-Ospina CA, Soler F. Definition of self-medication: a scoping review. Ther Adv Drug Saf 2022; 13:20420986221127501. [PMID: 36211626 PMCID: PMC9537481 DOI: 10.1177/20420986221127501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-medication (SM) is a global and growing phenomenon. It represents a public
health problem due to antibiotic resistance, risk of adverse drug reactions,
drug–drug interactions, disease masking, and increased morbidity. There is not a
consensus on the definition of SM. The definitions found in different studies
make it difficult to address this problem from a theoretical perspective and
therefore find an adequate solution to this public health problem. The aim of
this article is to search the medical literature to characterize the current
understanding of SM in the medical community. We conducted a scoping review of
definitions of SM by searching on PubMed – Medline, Embase, and LILACS using the
following combination of keywords: ‘self-prescription’ or ‘self prescription’,
‘self-medication’ or ‘self medication’, or ‘automedication’ and ‘definition’ or
‘explanation’. The search was limited to articles containing the definition of
SM, with no limit on language or year. Duplicate studies and those that did not
mention the definition of SM were excluded from the final review. A total of 65
studies were included in the final selection. We found a vast heterogeneity in
the definition of SM. Most articles based their definition of SM on the process
of obtaining the drug, the nonparticipation of a specific health professional,
the source of the medication, and the reason for SM. Other interesting concepts
such as self-care, nonadherence to a prescription, reuse of stored drugs, and
sharing and lending medicines were also considered forms of SM by other authors,
however. This study highlights the need to reach a consensus regarding the
definition of SM to adequately propose strategies to address this global health
problem. This study shows the diverse concepts that need to be included in a
future definition of SM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Baracaldo-Santamaría
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Biomedical
Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario,
Bogota, Colombia
| | - Maria José Trujillo-Moreno
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Biomedical
Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario,
Bogota, Colombia
| | - Andrés M. Pérez-Acosta
- Observatory of Self-Medication Behavior, School
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá,
Colombia
| | | | - Carlos-Alberto Calderon-Ospina
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Biomedical
Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario,
Bogota, Colombia,Observatory of Self-Medication Behavior, School
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá,
Colombia,Center for Research in Genetics and Genomics -
CIGGUR, GENIUROS Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
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Alburayk KB, Alqahtani BS, Alsarhani WK. Ophthalmology Self-medication Practices: A Questionnaire-based Study. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2020; 28:453-457. [PMID: 33369523 DOI: 10.1080/09286586.2020.1869272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of the study was to identify patterns of self-medication practices in ophthalmology.Methods: We conducted an electronic cross-sectional descriptive survey of the Riyadh regional population in Saudi Arabia.Results: The study included 1354 subjects; 662 were males (49%), and 692 were females (51%). The rate of self-medication with prescription drugs (topical antibiotics and steroid-containing eye drops) in our sample was 37.2%. The number of respondents who reported using eye drops, whether it was an over-the-counter drug or a prescription drug, was 733 (54.1%). The most frequently used ophthalmic medications after lubrication drops were steroid-containing eye drops (32.6%), followed by topical decongestants (11%) and antibiotics (4.6%). The majority of steroid users (86.6%) were not aware of any steroid-related ocular complications.Conclusion: Our study showed a high rate of self-medication practices along with a low level of awareness of topical medication-related side effects. If left unaddressed, this combination may result in high rates of preventable and avoidable adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bader S Alqahtani
- Department of Ophthalmology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Waleed K Alsarhani
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Ophthalmology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Proportion of Ophthalmic Self-Medication and Associated Factors among Adult Ophthalmic Patients Attending Borumeda Hospital, Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia. J Ophthalmol 2020; 2020:6932686. [PMID: 32377422 PMCID: PMC7196988 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6932686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of ophthalmic self-medication and associated factors among adult ophthalmic patients attending Borumeda Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia, 2019. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted on 402 participants at Borumeda Hospital from April 29 to May 24, 2019. Systematic random sampling technique was used to get study participants. Data were collected with a face-to-face interview by using a semistructured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi Info 7 and analyzed by SPSS 20. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis were employed. P values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results The proportion of ophthalmic self-medication was 28.6% (95% CI; 24.6–33.3). Age-group 29–42 years (AOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.06–4.52), absence of health insurance (AOR: 4.29; 2.35–7.84), more than 10 kilometer traveling distance to get eye services (AOR: 3.11; 1.58–6.12), previous experience of ocular illness (AOR: 2.62, 95% CI: 1.53–4.48), family or friend experience of ocular illness (AOR: 2.65, 95%CI: 1.43–4.92), availability of ophthalmic medicine bottle/tube at home (AOR: 4.59, 95% CI: 2.36–8.92), and poor knowledge about hazards of self-medication (AOR: 6.22; 3.26–11.85) were significantly associated with ophthalmic self-medication. Conclusion and Recommendations. The proportion of ophthalmic self-medication was high, which needs stakeholders' attention. The policymakers and regulatory body better to scale-up health insurance coverage, nearby accessible eye care services, improve knowledge of patients regarding the effect of ophthalmic self-medication, and proper disposal of leftover eye medication from the house. It is better to take regulatory actions on those who dispense ophthalmic medications without prescription.
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Gupta N, Vashist P, Tandon R, Gupta SK, Kalaivani M, Dwivedi SN. Use of traditional eye medicine and self-medication in rural India: A population-based study. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183461. [PMID: 28829812 PMCID: PMC5567472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the type and nature of traditional eye medicine (TEM), their sources and use and practices related to self-medication for ophthalmic diseases in a rural Indian population. METHODS A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in 25 randomly selected clusters of Rural Gurgaon, Haryana, India as part of CORE (Cornea Opacity Rural Epidemiological) study. In addition to comprehensive ophthalmic examination, health-seeking behavior and use of self-medication and TEM was assessed in the adult population using a semi-structured questionnaire. Physical verification of available ophthalmic medications in the enumerated households was conducted by the study team. Descriptive statistics were computed along with multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine associated factors for use of self-medication and TEM. RESULTS Of the 2160 participants interviewed, 396 (18.2%) reported using ophthalmic medications without consulting an ophthalmologist, mainly for symptoms like watering (37.1%), redness (27.7%), itching (19.2%) and infection (13.6%). On physical verification of available eye drops that were being used without prescription, 26.4% participants were practicing self-medication. Steroid, expired/unlabeled and indigenous eye drops were being used by 151(26.5%), 120(21.1%) and 75 (13.2%) participants respectively. Additionally, 25.7% (529) participants resorted to home remedies like 'kajal'(61.4%), honey (31.4%), ghee (11.7%) and rose water (9.1%). CONCLUSION Use of TEM is prevalent in this population. The rampant use of steroid eye drops without prescription along with use of expired or unlabelled eye drops warrants greater emphasis on safe eye care practices in this population. Public awareness and regulatory legislations must be implemented to decrease harmful effects arising due to such practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noopur Gupta
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Praveen Vashist
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Radhika Tandon
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sanjeev K. Gupta
- Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mani Kalaivani
- Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - S. N. Dwivedi
- Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Zhao Y, Ma S. Observations on the Prevalence, Characteristics, and Effects of Self-Treatment. Front Public Health 2016; 4:69. [PMID: 27148515 PMCID: PMC4834428 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims When facing illness, a person may choose self-treatment as an alternative to hospital (and primary care)-based treatment. Despite its important role in health care, the study on self-treatment remains limited. The goal is to collectively report the observations in the literature on the prevalence, characteristics, and effects of self-treatment. Methods Databases (Medline/PubMed and Google Scholar) were searched. Articles were scrutinized for country of origin, sample size, recall period, prevalence, associated factors, etc. Results Published studies have reported that in some regions, the prevalence of self-treatment is high and varies across illness conditions and treatment approaches. Self-medication is the most popular self-treatment approach. Multiple regional, demographic, personal, cultural, and religious factors have been implicated in the pursuit of self-treatment. In addition, accessibility of health care also plays a role. In general, self-treatment has a positive clinical and financial effect. However, there have been concerns on abuse and possible negative effects. Conclusion This article reviews observations made in recent studies on several important aspects of self-treatment. Comprehensive and systematic study is still lacking. Interventions are needed to solve several problems associated with self-treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinjun Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA
| | - Shuangge Ma
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA
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Byrom L, Zappala T, Muir J. Dermatological reactions to ophthalmic preparations: More than meets the eye. Australas J Dermatol 2014; 55:95-8. [DOI: 10.1111/ajd.12152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2013] [Accepted: 01/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Byrom
- Department of Dermatology; Mater Hospital; Brisbane Australia
| | - Tania Zappala
- Department of Dermatology; Mater Childrens Hospital; Brisbane Australia
| | - Jim Muir
- Department of Dermatology; Mater Hospital and Belmont Specialist Centre; Brisbane Australia
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