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@article{182592,
        author = {Dr. Hema Manogna Narne and Dr. B. Thangabalan and Mr. Rahul Patra and Mr. Arindam Panda and Ms. Sofiya Kadala and Ms. Usha Sri Durga Talam and Mr. Shalom Kanaparthi and Mr. Akhil Miriyala},
        title = {A SURVEY ON THE PREFERENCES, PERCEPTION AND VARIABLES INFLUENCING THE USE OF OTC DRUGS},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {2},
        pages = {2627-2635},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=182592},
        abstract = {The study aims to assess the preferences and attitudes toward the use of over the counter (OTC) drugs among local residents in a community pharmacy. The main objectives of the study are to determine the awareness on use of OTC drugs, literacy rate effect on OTC drug use, variables influencing public for self-medication and the respondent’s preferences and attitudes on the safety of OTC drug use. Objectives and procedure of the study were explained to the participants and those who were willing to fill the informed consent form were included for the study. A feedback questionnaire covering various aspects of OTC drugs were distributed among the participants. Residents who have willingness to answer the questionnaire form after approaching the community pharmacy for OTC drugs. Data obtained was placed in a defined format using the Microsoft Excel software that will be used for descriptive analysis. Most of the people approached for the community pharmacy were approached to receive OTC drugs through pharmacists, doctors, priory followed by television, internet, family and friends, the major factors that influence them for self medication are prevention of known illness and mild aliments. Clients have different preferences and attitudes on the safety use of OTC drugs, of those majority of people have reported that consult of physician depending on the symptoms we have found. On considering the literacy rate into account for OTC drug use, highly educated people showed better usage of drugs compared to less standard education.},
        keywords = {over the counter drugs, preferences, attitudes, variables},
        month = {July},
        }