Self prescription of topical eye medications among new patients attending adult eye clinic at muhimbili national hospital

Introduction: Self-medication can be harmful to patients, as safety of drug,dosageand duration may not reflect the proper diagnosis. Drugs need special instruction in usage and storage, which is likely to be missed in self-medication practices. In the course of self-medication patients are likely to delay in seeking medical attention as they will go to hospital only when the condition had worsens. Objective: To assess the practices self-prescription of topical eye medication among new patient attending the adult eye clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital. Methodology: This was a hospital based cross sectional study which employed both quantitative and qualitative methods. New patients attending the adult eye clinic at MNH from July 2022 to January 2023 were recruited in the study. Systematic random sampling technique and purposive sampling was done; questionnaire and interviews were used to obtain information. Results: A total of 377patients were recruited for quantitative data collection, of whom52.8% were male and 47.2% were female. Twelve patients were recruited for focus group discussion. These were6males and 6 females. Two female health workers (one ophthalmologist and ophthalmic nurse) were recruited for in-depth interviews. The magnitude of self-prescription of topical eye(s) medications was 168(44.6%). The eye pain (60.1%), eye itching (42.9%) and red eyes (39.3%) were the common ocular symptoms led to self-prescription of topical eye medications. Long distant from the health facilities (60.7%), advice from a friend/relative (57.8%) and using previous remained prescription (26.8%) were reasons given by thestudy subjects as the factors which lead them to practice self-prescription. Majority of the patients obtained their medicines from pharmacy/shops (58.9%).Reported reasons for self-medication included saving costs, lack of awareness, long distances to health facilities and saving time was mentioned in qualitative study. Conclusion: Self-medication of topical eye medicines is a commonpractice among patients with ocular problems in the study participants. Pain was most common eye symptom related to self-prescription. Reasons for self-medication with topical eye medications were long distances to health facilities with eye services, costs, lack of awareness and long waiting time for services were the reasons mentioned for self-eye medications.