Frequency of using non-prescribed medication among the community of Majmaah City

Abstract

Introduction: The use of non-prescribed medication can be considered the most common form of self-health care. The use of non-prescribed medication can take place through the consumption of industrialized medication. The use of non-prescribed medication is high among the Saudi population because they can be easily obtained without a medical prescription or evidence-based indication. Objectives: To determine the frequency of using non-prescribed medication in Majmaah City, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in Majmaah City. The study targeted adults of both genders. The sampling was conducted with a convenience sampling technique. A self-constructed questionnaire was used to collect the data from 390 participants. Participation consent from the subjects was taken (verbally). Results: The frequency of using non-prescribed medication among the Majmaah City population was high (93.1%), and (37.9%) of participants used non-prescribed medication because they had similar symptoms before and knew the treatment. Public pharmacies were the main source for non-prescribed medication (41.8%). Gender and use of non-prescribed medication were significantly associated, whereby male respondents used non-prescribed medication more than female respondents (70.8% male, 29.2% female). Conclusions: The frequency of using non-prescribed medication in Majmaah City is high. Pain killers, antibiotics and antipyretics were the most used medications. Males used non-prescribed medications more than females.