ASSESSING CONSUMER AWARENESS AND SELF-MEDICATION PRACTICES FOR OTC PAIN RELIEVERS: A CASE STUDY ON IBUPROFEN

Management

In India, ibuprofen and its combinations, such as Combiflam, are common, and self-medication with over-the-counter analgesics is common. This study examined the practice of self-medication, including brand choice and label literacy, and assessed consumer awareness of ibuprofen's over-the-counter status. A cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted with 205 participants, the majority of whom were students between the ages of 18 and 25. The data was examined using chi-square tests and SPSS v29-based CHAID modeling. The results showed that self-medication was common (78.1%) and that participants were well aware of the over-the-counter availability of ibuprofen (93.3%). The most popular brand was Combiflam (58.7%). Significant correlations between awareness, preference, and frequency of usage were found using chi-square testing (p < 0.001). Conversely, CHAID analysis showed that the most significant predictor was the frequency of self-medication.among the analyzed factors. In addition, despite the group's high level of education, 71.4% of respondents said they only "sometimes" or less read the label. In order to make OTC use safer for Indians, the conclusion emphasizes the necessity of pharmacist counseling, awareness campaigns about reading labels, and regulations on combination analgesics.

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