Self – medication among cardiovascular patients of Bu-Ali hospital

Abstract

Background: Self–medication refers to drug consumption (herbal & artificial ) without the diagnosis or prescription of a physician leading to side effect and over usage of drugs. Objective: To survey self–medication among cardiovascular patients. Methods: This cross–sectional study was implenented on 60 cardiovascular patients at Bu-Ali hospital in 2001. The questionnaires were filled out and the information were presented as descriptive or analytical statistics. Findings: All the patients kept drugs at home . %26.7 took hypertensian and anti–angina drugs willfully before hospitalization and %86.7 took herbal drugs (mostly cowslip). Conclusion : Regarding the high cost of drug production as well as the side effect of taking herbal or artificial drugs , we should increase every body’s knowledge of usage and improve the function of medical staff.