PREVALENCE OF SELF-MEDICATION PRACTICES WITH TOPICAL STEROIDS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG OPHTHALMIC PATIENTS ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN PUDUCHERRY

Self-medication with topical steroids is a growing concern among ophthalmic patients, potentially leading to severe complications such as glaucoma, cataract, and exacerbation of underlying eye diseases. The lack of awareness about the risks associated with unsupervised steroid use further aggravates the issue, highlighting the need for urgent interventions. Aim and Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-medication with ocular topical steroids and its associated factors among patients attending a tertiary care center in Puducherry. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 ophthalmic patients from March to August 2024. Data was collected using a pre designed semi structured questionnaire which was validated by doing pilot testing upon 50 patients covering demographics, clinical history, and self-medication practices. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were used to determine prevalence and associated factors. Results: The prevalence of self-medication with ocular topical steroids was 29.8%. The key factors associated with self-medication included age > 50 years (AOR: 1.56), lower education level (AOR: 2.10), and previous experience with eye diseases (AOR: 1.89). The most common reasons for selfmedication practices were ease of access to steroids (45.2%) and previous experience of symptom relief (39.4%). Lack of awareness about steroid side effects was inversely associated with self-medication. Conclusion: The high prevalence of self-medication with ocular topical steroids among ophthalmic patients highlights the need for public health interventions to educate patients and regulate the availability of these medications.