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Mohammed Lotfy AM, Anwar MM, Nadi AB, Ahmed GS. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding self-medication for acne among medical students in Beni-Suef University. Int J Adolesc Med Health 2024; 0:ijamh-2024-0037. [PMID: 38728599 DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2024-0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and self-medication practices for acne vulgaris. METHODS An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Beni-Suef University's Faculty of Medicine from January 2023 to June 2023. A pre-structured questionnaire was used for the study. RESULTS A total of 297 students (85.1 %) used self-medications for acne without a prescription. The total knowledge score of self-medication among the study participants was 3.81 ± 2.23. About 71.4 % knew about precautions, and 72.7 % of the participants reported that self-medication is part of self-care. There was a statistical significance between the total mean knowledge score and age (p=0.007), gender (p=0.013), and academic year (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS A significant portion of students self-medicate about acne. The total knowledge score of self-medication was to some extent not relatively high. Educational programs can be developed to increase medical students' awareness of the risks and benefits of self-medication, information on appropriate use of medications, and when to seek medical attention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manal Mohamed Anwar
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef City, Egypt
| | - Aya Badawi Nadi
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef City, Egypt
| | - Gehad S Ahmed
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef City, Egypt
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Alghamdi SMS, Alzahrani RAJ, Alghamdi SSA, Alzahrani RMA, Alghamdi HAA, Alghamdi DAM, Alzahrani MAS, Fouad AA, Alzahrani RA, Alghamdi MA. Self-Medication Practices Among the General Population in Al-Baha City, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e50810. [PMID: 38249219 PMCID: PMC10797161 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.50810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The practice of self-medication (SM) is the use of self-consuming medication without consulting healthcare which carries its own risks. SM patterns differ across populations and are influenced by several factors. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of SM practices in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia, to identify the factors contributing to this practice and develop effective strategies to decrease its occurrence and associated risks. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted in Al Baha Province, Saudi Arabia, over two weeks in July 2023, with a sample of 580 participants. Eligible participants were males and females, both Saudi and non-Saudi, aged 18-65. The data were collected using a self-administered online questionnaire. Results Of all participants, 48.7% admitted taking medications without a healthcare practitioner's prescription in the last three months. Analgesics were the most common SM (29.1%), followed by vitamins and minerals (16.2%), and antipyretics (14.1%). The side effects experienced from SM included nausea (24.5%), headache (20.5%), and shortness of breath (8.7%). Regarding the source of medication, the majority (61.9%) obtained medications from a pharmacy and 14.6% used existing stock. Age was significantly associated with higher rates in the 18-29 and 40-49 age groups. Educational status was significantly associated with higher SM among graduates. Regarding reading medical instructions, 39.2% always read, 47.7% sometimes read, and 13.1% never read. Regarding antibiotic SM, 61 participants reported using over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotics. Common reasons for use included sore throat (27.8%) and common cold (19.6%). The most common reason for SM was to save time (25.9%), followed by avoiding crowds and long waits (17.1%). Conclusions A significant prevalence of SM practice concerning antibiotic misuse and sex differences with female dominance was detected. We recommend further public awareness activities from related organizations and more regulations for OTC prescription practices to ensure safe SM practices. In addition, further research is needed to explore SM patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Amr A Fouad
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, SAU
| | - Rajab A Alzahrani
- Unit of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, SAU
| | - Mohammed A Alghamdi
- Unit of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, SAU
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Al-Omari B, Farhat J, Khan M, Grancharov H, Zahr ZA, Hanna S, Alrahoomi A. Exploring patient treatment decision making for osteoarthritis in the UAE: a cross-sectional adaptive choice-based conjoint study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1542. [PMID: 37573337 PMCID: PMC10423421 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16490-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess osteoarthritis (OA) patients' preferences for pharmaceutical treatment via Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint (ACBC) method. METHODS A United Arab Emirates (UAE) based Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group designed the ACBC questionnaire with 10 attributes and 34 levels. The questionnaire was developed using Sawtooth Software and analyzed through Hierarchical Bayesian (HB). Results were standardized using Z-score via SPSS. RESULTS Study participants were 1030 OA patients, 83.6% aged 50 or older and 83.4% female. The avoidance of medication's side effects accounted for 66% relative importance compared to 6% relative importance for the medication's benefits. The "way of taking the medicine" attribute had the highest coefficient of variation (70%) and the four side effect attributes "risk of gastric ulcer, addiction, kidney and liver impairment, and heart attacks and strokes" had a coefficient of variation from 18 to 21%. CONCLUSIONS Arab OA patients are similar to other ethnic groups in trading-off benefits and side effects and consistently prioritizing the avoidance of medications' side effects. Although the "Way of taking medicine" was the least important attribute it was associated with the highest variation amongst patients. OA patients also prefer prescribed medications to internet-purchased and over-the-counter options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basem Al-Omari
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Joviana Farhat
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mumtaz Khan
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Rheumatology, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), P.O. Box 11001, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hristo Grancharov
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Healthpoint Hospital, P.O. Box 112308, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Zaki Abu Zahr
- Department of Rheumatology, Healthpoint Hospital, P.O. Box 112308, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sammy Hanna
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Healthpoint Hospital, P.O. Box 112308, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Whitechapel, London, E1 2AD, UK
| | - Abdulla Alrahoomi
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Healthpoint Hospital, P.O. Box 112308, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Ghodkhande KP, Choudhari SG, Gaidhane A. Self-Medication Practices Among the Geriatric Population: A Systematic Literature Review. Cureus 2023; 15:e42282. [PMID: 37609089 PMCID: PMC10440492 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The ageing population is increasingly using self-medication due to comorbidities. Most people who self-medicate use over-the-counter (OTC) medications bought from private pharmacies as their primary source of medicine. The use of self-medication may lead to an increased risk of unfavourable health outcomes. People over the age of 65 are more vulnerable to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Our article aims to gain insights into self-medication in the geriatric population. We searched the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) via Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The PubMed search technique was customised for each database and was as follows: (self-medication (Title/Abstract)) AND (geriatric (Title/Abstract) OR elderly (Title/Abstract) OR old (Title/Abstract)). Also, we used other databases like the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MOHFW) under the Government of India, etc. The keywords used for the search strategy were 'over-the-counter drugs', adverse drug reactions', self-prescribed drugs', and non-prescription drugs'. Articles that were not relevant to the review topic are excluded. Through our review, we found that most geriatric people use self-medication because of their previous experience with that medication, a lack of seriousness regarding the consequences of using OTC medications, and suggestions from family members, friends, or neighbours. Abdominal pain, headache, cough, joint pain, and fever are the conditions for which the geriatric age group mainly uses self-medication. The primary source of self-medication is directly from the pharmacy, and the most commonly consumed drug for self-medication is analgesics. Most people know about the risks associated with self-medication. However, people continue to participate in this risky self-medication behaviour to get quick relief from a mild illness. This issue can be resolved by providing such a group with free consultations or medical insurance. Pharmacists' role in self-medication is also important. Counselling regarding the hazards of self-medication and selling the drugs to consumers without a doctor's prescription must be avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushal P Ghodkhande
- Epidemiology and Public Health, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Sonali G Choudhari
- Epidemiology & Public Health, Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Abhay Gaidhane
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College; Datta Meghe Institute of HIgher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
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Thekkiniyakath Ali AS, A Alsheraihi AA, Ibrahim Alghamdi SS, Sulaiman Alsuwaylihi R, Sulaiman Alenazi S, Saad Bin Hussain L. A Cross-Sectional Study on Self-Medication Prevalence and Usage Patterns: An Alarming Concept Among the Saudi Population. Cureus 2023; 15:e40436. [PMID: 37456396 PMCID: PMC10349170 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-medication (SM) has many potential drawbacks, including toxicity, drug resistance, severe adverse effects, drug interactions, drug abuse, and drug dependence, but it is still widely used for a variety of reasons, including time and money savings, symptom prevention or treatment of minor illnesses, a lack of access to doctors, etc. This study aimed to describe and analyse the usage of antibiotics without a prescription, self-medication practises, and patterns of using them among Saudis. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 13 provinces of Saudi Arabia, a community-based cross-sectional study was done. After gaining consent, data were gathered from 420 adults during face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire. SPSS was used to analyse the data once it had been entered into Microsoft Excel (Microsoft® Corp., Redmond, WA). RESULTS Regarding self-medication, among 208 participants, there was a male predominance and among upper lower class with respect to socioeconomic status. The self-medication rate was found to be higher among graduates and professionals with respect to education and occupation. Self-medication was discovered to be more prevalent among metropolitan residents. The majority of those who started using self-medication got their knowledge from various advertisements. The most frequent symptom of self-medication was fever, followed by a common cold. The most commonly used medication was paracetamol, followed by cough syrups. Weight loss advertisements influence participants the most for self-medication, followed by hair loss and diabetes. TV advertisements have the highest influence on people practising self-medication. CONCLUSION The study calls for greater knowledge of the impacts of antibiotic self-medication, which can be accomplished through efficient measures including behaviour change communication and encouraging more research into its causes and effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Salam Thekkiniyakath Ali
- Preventive Dental Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, SAU
| | | | | | | | - Suha Sulaiman Alenazi
- Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Lamia Saad Bin Hussain
- Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, SAU
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Ayosanmi O, Delbaere M, Taylor J. Development of a Propensity to Self-Medicate with Over-the-Counter Medicines Scale (PSM-OTC). Innov Pharm 2022; 13:10.24926/iip.v13i3.4934. [PMID: 36627917 PMCID: PMC9815875 DOI: 10.24926/iip.v13i3.4934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To develop a valid and reliable scale to measure the public's propensity to self-medicate with OTC medicines. Method: Propensity construct items were obtained from the literature and also created as new entities. Three experts reviewed the item pool for face validity. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Test-retest reliability was estimated using Pearson correlation coefficients (r), Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) and paired sample t-tests. Further test-retest reliability assessed the degree of change in responses in a subset of subjects from time 1 to time 2 (one month apart) for each item on the scale. Results: From the pool, 16 items were assessed for applicability to the propensity construct. Factor Analysis identified four components and were labelled as purchase involvement, self-efficacy, awareness of care needed during self-medication, and the therapeutic usefulness of OTC medicines. The internal consistency of the 16-item scale was sufficient; overall alpha was 0.9 and each construct had an alpha of 0.7 to 0.8. Test-retest reliability coefficients (r) for the four components were reassuring, ranging from 0.4 to 0.5, while the ICC values ranged from 0.5 to 0.7. A paired sample t-test showed no statistically significant difference in the rating at the two iterations for each of the constructs, thereby suggesting good reliability of the data. Over 50% of respondents did not change their original response to the 7-point scales (strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (7)) for 9 out of 16 items. Factor loading from Principal Component Analysis led to the reduction of the 16-items scale to a 15-item Propensity to Self-Medicate with OTC Medicines Scale. Conclusion: The developed tool for measuring the propensity to self-medicate with OTC medicines showed acceptable performance of internal consistency and reliability. The scale may have research potential in assessing the self-medication propensity of different cohorts of society.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marjorie Delbaere
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Jeff Taylor
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Canada,Corresponding author: Jeff Taylor, Professor College of Pharmacy and Nutrition University of Saskatchewan 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5E5
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Qin S, Zhao J, Zhou M, Cheng Y, Ding Y. Self-medication and its typology in Chinese elderly population: A cross-sectional study. Front Public Health 2022; 10:954305. [PMID: 36339244 PMCID: PMC9627487 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.954305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose This paper aims to evaluate the prevalence of self-medication and its associated factors among the Chinese elderly. Also, according to whether the elderly communicate with doctors (no matter before or after self-medication), we aimed to categorize self-medication and explore the associated factors. Methods It was a cross-sectional study. Data were derived from the 2018 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). According to whether communicate with doctors or not, self-medication was reclassified as "self-medicate and NOT communicating with a doctor," and "self-medicate and communicate with a doctor." A binary logistic regression was used to identify which elderly were more likely to self-medicate, and a multinomial logistic regression was applied to explore the associated influencing factors of self-medication classifications. Results A total of 17,445 individuals aged ≥45 years were enrolled. The prevalence of self-medication was 58.60%. Self-medication was strongly associated with sex, education level, pension, self-reported general health status, chronic illness, satisfaction with local medical services, and three province-level socioeconomic welfare variables. About 19.64% of self-medication populations had communicated with a doctor. Higher education level and younger age were significantly associated with a higher probability of "self-medication and communication with a doctor." Conclusion The prevalence of self-medication among the Chinese elderly is increasing over the year. Health education on appropriate medication use targeting elder adults with low education levels is highly recommended. The typology of self-medication and its factors are new research entry points and could be meaningful for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangren Qin
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junjie Zhao
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengqiu Zhou
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yenuan Cheng
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ye Ding
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,*Correspondence: Ye Ding
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Almuqairsha SA, Aldekhail MI, Aldekhail AI, Alresaini MH, Almarshoud SS, Alashqar SA, Algosair I, Alresaini HH. The Prevalence and Level of Awareness of Medication Overuse Headache in Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus 2022; 14:e28101. [PMID: 35990565 PMCID: PMC9386299 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.28101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Self-Medication Practices, Prevalence, and Associated Factors among Syrian Adult Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2022:9274610. [PMID: 35800339 PMCID: PMC9256391 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9274610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Self-medication (SM) means using drugs to treat self-diagnosed diseases or symptoms. Despite its important role in reducing the load on medical services, it may bear many risks. This study aims to determine the prevalence of SM and its determinants among adult inpatients of Damascus Hospital, Syria. Study design. Cross-sectional study. Methods 453 adult inpatients were asked to complete a questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. Data were analysed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS). A chi-square test was used to detect correlation between variables. Results Out of 453 respondents, 67.3% practiced self-medication. Most used drugs were analgesics, antipyretics, and antibiotics. The main indications for SM included headache, cough/flu, and body aches. Pharmacists were the main source of knowledge about the drugs used in SM. The leading reason for practicing SM was the mildness of the complaint. Approximately half of the participants declared they read leaflets of drugs they used in SM. In this study, SM was significantly associated with monthly income, age, and living place. Conclusions The prevalence of SM in Damascus Hospital is high. Larger, nationwide studies are needed to identify the prevalence and determining factors of SM in Syria and to suggest the appropriate measures to control this phenomenon.
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Assessment of self-medication practice and the potential to use a mobile app to ensure safe and effective self-medication among the public in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharm J 2022; 30:927-933. [PMID: 35903533 PMCID: PMC9315318 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2022.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
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Mannasaheb BA, Alajlan SA, Alshahrani JA, Othman N, Alolayan SO, Alamrah MS, Asdaq SMB, Al-Qahtani AM, Shaikh IA, Alasmary MY. Prevalence, Predictors and Point of View Toward Self-Medication Among Residents of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Front Public Health 2022; 10:862301. [PMID: 35400077 PMCID: PMC8989923 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.862301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Irrational Self-Medication (SM) practice leads to incorrect diagnosis and is a risk factor for disease exacerbation and serious health consequences. Hence Responsible SM is vital for better health outcomes. In the present community-based study we explored the SM practice during the last 3 months, frequency, outcome, medications used, reasons influencing SM, source of the drug, and information. Data were analyzed using SPSS; chi-square test was performed to indicate significance, Odds ratio, Pearson correlation, univariant and multivariant regression analysis were performed to find out factors and predictors of SM. A total of 611 residents completed the survey. SM was practiced by 52.9% of participants during the last 3 months, with a frequency of one to two times. Headache (64.8%), pain (35.4%), fever/flu (31.4%), cold & cough (21.9%) and dysmenorrhea (20.9%) were illnesses managed using pain killers (75.9%), multivitamins (25.5%), anti-pyretic (24.7%) and herbal medicines (18.5%). Minor illness (67.9%), earlier experience (33.9%) and shortness of time to attend healthcare facilities (18.8%) were the reasons for practicing SM. Distance to healthcare and routine physical activity have significantly influenced the SM practice. Residents stated that inappropriate SM would lead to negative outcomes, including drug side effects (70%), Interaction (34.2%), poor treatment outcome (32.6%) and return of symptoms (26.5%). Interestingly, two-thirds of participants (68.9%) have recommended SM in case of minor illnesses only, 85.3% of respondents have expressed their desire to learn more about appropriate SM, and 76.6% are willing to return their leftover or unused medications to drug take-back centers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Noordin Othman
- Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Management and Science University, University Drive, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Sultan Othman Alolayan
- Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Saleh Alamrah
- General Practitioner Physician at Almansk PHCC, Directorate of Health Affairs in Asir Region, Ministry of Health, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Awad Mohammed Al-Qahtani
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Ahmed Shaikh
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia
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Kifle ZD, Mekuria AB, Anteneh DA, Enyew EF. Self-medication Practice and Associated Factors among Private Health Sciences Students in Gondar Town, North West Ethiopia. A Cross-sectional Study. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing 2021; 58:469580211005188. [PMID: 33759621 PMCID: PMC7995453 DOI: 10.1177/00469580211005188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Self-medication is the most common practice worldwide and it may lead to irrational use of drugs. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of self-medication practice and its associated factors among health science students. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 health science students in Gondar town. The data regarding self-medication practice and its associated factors were collected using a face-to-face interview on a structured questionnaire. SPSS −24 was used for data analysis and explained with univariate, and multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine the factors associated with self-medication practice (sex, age, religion, marital status, residence, department, year of study, monthly income, access to pharmacy, and peer/family pressure). A total of 554 students responded to the questionnaire with a response rate of 92.3%. Out of 554 respondents, 78.2% were practiced self-medication. Headache/fever 37.88% (n = 164) was reported as the most common complaint to practice self-medication. Among the reasons for self-medication practice, similarity of symptoms with past illness 33.49% (n = 145) was the most frequently reported. In current study, Females (AOR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.55, 6.25), Muslim followers (AOR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.30, 5.91), Protestant followers (AOR = 4.25, 95% CI = 1.38, 13.07), pharmacy students (AOR = 3.72, 95% CI = 1.97, 9.30), clinical nursing students (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.87, 14.48), monthly income (>500ETB) (AOR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.12, 5.56), distance of health institution (<30 min) (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.39, 5.61), and accessibility of pharmacy (AOR = 4.85, 95% CI = 2.08, 11.29) were the independent predictors of self-medication practice. Self-medication is common in health science students in Gondar town. Health professionals should educate students on the risks and benefits of self-medication to encourage responsible self-medication. National guidelines on medicine access should be developed and strong measures should be implemented to halt the selling of medications without a proper prescription.
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