A Study to Assess the Knowledge and Practice regarding OTC drugs among BSc. Nursing students

Self medication with over the counter (OTC) drugs is common among medicine and nursing students. Despite all their benefits, improper use of medicines can bring potential health hazards and evidence continue to mount that adverse reaction to medicines are common and yet often preventable1. Over the counter drugs means drugs which are allowed to be sold by pharmacists without need for a prescription. The term does not have a legal definition in India2. Objectives: 1. To assess the level of knowledge of B.Sc Nursing students regarding OTC drugs, 2. To assess the practice of B.Sc Nursing students regarding OTC drugs, 3. To determine the association of knowledge of B.Sc Nursing students with the demographic variables, 4. To determine the association of practice among B.Sc Nursing students with the demographic variables. 5. To determine the correlation between knowledge and practice of B.Sc Nursing students regarding OTC drugs. Methods: Descriptive research design and purposive sampling technique was used for the study. 60 B.Sc Nursing students were selected from NS Memorial College of Nursing, Kollam. Result: Analysis of knowledge of B.Sc(N) students regarding OTC drugs shows that 15% had inadequate knowledge, 48.3% had moderate knowledge and 36.7% had adequate knowledge level. Analysis of the practice of 60 B.Sc(N) students regarding OTC drugs shows that 88.5% had bad practice and 11.5% had good practice level.