Self-medication Behavior Research Articles

Tingkat Pengetahuan dan Perilaku Swamedikasi pada Mahasiswa Universitas Mulawarman

Self-medication is the process of self-medication by a person without using a prescription from a doctor. Self-medication is one of the many efforts made by the community in overcoming minor illnesses. One of the factors that can influence self-medication behavior is knowledge about self-medication. This study was conducted to determine the level of knowledge and behavior of self-medication in students at Mulawarman University. This type of research is an observational research qualitatively and quantitatively using an online questionnaire. Respondents obtained as many as 929 respondents. The results of the research on the characteristics of respondents obtained the highest percentage of age 21 years (36.7%), class of 2017 (46.8%), and female gender (77.5%). The results showed that 43.4% of respondents had good self-medication knowledge and 60% of respondents had good self-medication behavior. The results of statistical tests using the Spearman Rank method show that there is a significant relationship between the level of knowledge and self-medication behavior. The significance value (p) obtained is 0.000, with a correlation coefficient of 0.270 in the health faculty student group and 0.212 in the non-health faculty student group which shows the close relationship between the two variables is weak.

Antibiotic Self-Medication and Antibiotic Resistance: Multilevel Regression Analysis of Repeat Cross-Sectional Survey Data in Europe

Antibiotic resistance is a global public health issue with several anthropogenic drivers, including antibiotic consumption. Recent studies have highlighted that the relationship between antibiotic consumption and antibiotic resistance is contextualised by a variety of socioeconomic, cultural, and governance-related drivers of consumption behaviour and contagion that have been underexamined. A potential complication for research and policy is that measures of antibiotic consumption are often reliant on prescribing or sales data which may not easily take into account the dynamics of community consumption that include self-medication; for example, the preservation and use of leftover medication or the obtaining of antibiotics without a prescription. This study uses repeated cross-sectional survey data to fulfil two core aims: firstly, to examine the individual-level and national-contextual determinants of self-medication among antibiotic consumers in European countries, and secondly, to examine the relationship between self-medication behaviour and antibiotic resistance at the national level. This study is particularly novel in its application of a multilevel modelling specification that includes individual-level factors with both time-variant and persistent national characteristics to examine antibiotic consumption behaviours. The key findings of the study are that survey respondents in countries with persistently higher levels of inequality, burdens of out-of-pocket health expenditure, and corruption have an increased probability of self-medicating with antibiotics. The study also highlights that overall levels of antibiotic consumption and antibiotic self-medication do not correlate and are associated heterogeneously with changes in different pathogen/antibiotic pairs. In summary, the study emphasises that antibiotic stewardship and antibiotic resistance, whilst related by biological mechanisms, are also inherently social issues. Attempts to improve antibiotic stewardship and address the challenge of antibiotic resistance should also attend to structural challenges that underlie challenges to antibiotic stewardship in the community, such as the effects of inequality and reduced access to healthcare services.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Families Practices in Selecting, Obtaining, Using, Storing, and Disposing of Medicines on Self-Medication Behavior in Indonesia

BACKGROUND: The irrational use of medicine in the family is a serious problem. Advances in education, economy, availability of medicines, regulations, and technology have encouraged people to self-medicate in overcoming their illness. Self-medication behavior is not only carried out by adults but also by the elderly, students, and even children. Self-medication can provide positive health benefits if done correctly starting from selecting, obtaining, using, storing, and disposing medicines. On the other hand, if self-medication measures are carried out inappropriately, they can lead to various drug-related risks. AIM: Therefore, this study aimed to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and families practice in selecting, obtaining, using, storing, and disposing medicine and to identify the factors influence of this construct. METHOD: The study was conducted using an analytical method with a cross-sectional approach using a questionnaire for families in Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatera, Indonesia, namely, in 2x11 Enam Lingkung and Sungai Garingging Districts. The total sample size obtained was 500 families. Bivariate analysis was determined using Chi-squared test and multivariate analysis was determined using linear logistic regression. RESULTS: Data from current study found that the percentage of the average score of family knowledge of selecting, obtaining, using, storing, and disposing medicines was in a low category (57.53%), family attitudes were in the negative category (59.38%) and family actions were in the negative category (55.27%). The results of multivariate analysis using linear logistic regression showed that the sub-variables that influenced the knowledge, attitudes, and actions of families about medicines were pharmacists/doctors as the main source of information about drugs (p = 0.006), education in the category of secondary education (p = 0.002) and mothers as family members who had a major role in managing medicines (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The results show that knowledge, attitudes, and practice of families about medicines are still low and very limited. Factors that influence knowledge, attitudes, and practice of families selecting, obtaining, using, storing, and disposing medicine are pharmacists/doctors as the main source of information about medicine, education, and mothers as family members who have a major role in managing medicines. The lack of knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to medicines and the important role of the family is the reason for the very importance of family-based medicines education.

Trends in cannabis use among U.S. adults amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on mental health and alcohol use in the US, however there is little research on its impacts on cannabis use. Considering the role of cannabis as a coping strategy or self-medicating behavior, there is a need to understand how individuals who use cannabis have adapted their use amid the pandemic. Therefore, this study examined changes in self-reported cannabis use among US adults in the context of COVID-19 pandemic by (1) describing trends of use during the first 8 months of the pandemic among adults who used cannabis in this period; and (2) characterizing trends of use within sociodemographic subgroups and by state cannabis policy status.MethodsThe sample consisted of 1,761 US adults who used cannabis at least once during the 8-month study period from the nationally representative Understanding America Study. Linear mixed-effect models were used to model changes in the number of days of past-week cannabis use across 16 waves from March 10, 2020, to November 11, 2020.ResultsCompared to early March, the number of days cannabis was used per week was significantly higher at the start of April (β=0.11, 95% CI=0.03, 0.18) and May (β=0.21,95% CI=0.05, 0.36). In subsequent months (June - November), the number of days of cannabis use attenuated to levels comparable to March. Trends of cannabis use across the study period generally did not differ across sociodemographic characteristics and state cannabis policy status.ConclusionThough increases in use were marginal among many groups, the evolving pandemic and the growing concern for the mental health of segments of the U.S. population warrant close monitoring of coping behaviors, including substance use.

Hubungan Tingkat Pengetahuan terhadap Perilaku Swamedikasi Common Cold di Apotek X Kabupaten Nganjuk

Common cold or salesmas is an upper respiratory tranct infection caused by a virus. Therapy of the common cold can be done through self-medication. Self-medication is a form of community effort to maintain and increase health level. Self-medication requires good knowledge to result good behavior. This study aims to determine the corelation between knowledge on the behavior of self-medication of common cold in apotek x Nganjuk regency. This research is a descriptive observational study with a cross sectional research design with data collection through knowledge and behavior questionnaires. From the research results obtained 104 research respondents who met the inclusion criteria. The results obtained are high level of knowledge (59.6%), moderate (38.5%), low (1.9%), for the level of good behavior (73.1%), moderate (24.0%), less (2.9%). The significance value obtained is 0.000 and and the value of the correlation coefficient with a strong positive correlation direction of 0.513 which means that there is a relationship between the level of knowledge on the behavior of self-medication of common cold in apotek x in Nganjuk regency.

Folklore, Animal Self-Medication, and Phytotherapy-Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Some Things True.

The use of medicines was long considered by Western schools of thought to be a a domain unique to humans; however, folklore/Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) from around the world suggests that animals have also long provided inspiration for the discovery of some medicinal plants used to treat humans and their livestock. Searching for medicinal knowledge from animals depends on the recognition of their ability to select and effectively use medicinal plants to prevent or actively ameliorate disease and other homeostatic imbalances. The interdisciplinary field of animal self-medication is providing scientific evidence for this ability in species across the animal kingdom and lends support to animal-origin medicinal plant folklore and recent ethnomedicinal information. Here, 14 case studies of purported animal-inspired plant medicines used by cultures around the world are presented together with ethnomedicinal and pharmacological evidence. Based on this evidence, the diversity and potential mode of self-medicative behaviors are considered. Over 20 animal species, including llama, sloth and jaguar in South America, reindeer and yak in Eurasia, langur and macaque in Asia, and chimpanzee, wild boar, porcupine and elephant in Africa, are linked to these case studies, representing a variety of potential preventative or therapeutic self-medicative behaviors. These examples provide an important perspective on what is likely to have been a much wider practice in the development of human traditional medicine. A role for animal self-medication research in the rejuvenation of old therapies and possible new discoveries of phytotherapies for human and livestock health is encouraged.

Psychedelics, Sociality, and Human Evolution.

Our hominin ancestors inevitably encountered and likely ingested psychedelic mushrooms throughout their evolutionary history. This assertion is supported by current understanding of: early hominins’ paleodiet and paleoecology; primate phylogeny of mycophagical and self-medicative behaviors; and the biogeography of psilocybin-containing fungi. These lines of evidence indicate mushrooms (including bioactive species) have been a relevant resource since the Pliocene, when hominins intensified exploitation of forest floor foods. Psilocybin and similar psychedelics that primarily target the serotonin 2A receptor subtype stimulate an active coping strategy response that may provide an enhanced capacity for adaptive changes through a flexible and associative mode of cognition. Such psychedelics also alter emotional processing, self-regulation, and social behavior, often having enduring effects on individual and group well-being and sociality. A homeostatic and drug instrumentalization perspective suggests that incidental inclusion of psychedelics in the diet of hominins, and their eventual addition to rituals and institutions of early humans could have conferred selective advantages. Hominin evolution occurred in an ever-changing, and at times quickly changing, environmental landscape and entailed advancement into a socio-cognitive niche, i.e., the development of a socially interdependent lifeway based on reasoning, cooperative communication, and social learning. In this context, psychedelics’ effects in enhancing sociality, imagination, eloquence, and suggestibility may have increased adaptability and fitness. We present interdisciplinary evidence for a model of psychedelic instrumentalization focused on four interrelated instrumentalization goals: management of psychological distress and treatment of health problems; enhanced social interaction and interpersonal relations; facilitation of collective ritual and religious activities; and enhanced group decision-making. The socio-cognitive niche was simultaneously a selection pressure and an adaptive response, and was partially constructed by hominins through their activities and their choices. Therefore, the evolutionary scenario put forward suggests that integration of psilocybin into ancient diet, communal practice, and proto-religious activity may have enhanced hominin response to the socio-cognitive niche, while also aiding in its creation. In particular, the interpersonal and prosocial effects of psilocybin may have mediated the expansion of social bonding mechanisms such as laughter, music, storytelling, and religion, imposing a systematic bias on the selective environment that favored selection for prosociality in our lineage.

INTERACTION BETWEEN NUTRITION AND GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODES IN SMALL RUMINANTS GRAZING THE LOW DECIDUOUS FOREST – CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FMVZ-UADY

<p><strong>Background. </strong>Small ruminants that graze in the low deciduous forest (LDF) face problems related to malnutrition and gastrointestinal nematode infections (GIN). Over the past 30 years, FMVZ-UADY researchers have conducted extensive research to understand the interaction between small ruminant nutrition, plants consumed in LDF, and GINs. <strong>Objective.</strong> Review the work carried out in the FMVZ-UADY to explain why these problems of malnutrition and GIN infection occur and how to solve them. <strong>Main findings.</strong> Research shows that the complex interaction between small ruminants, LDF plants, and GINs helps explain malnutrition problems and GIN infections. Both of these problems have also been shown to abate through dietary supplementation, which must be designed to deliver the limiting nutrients in the LDF. Producers can use criteria such as weight gain and body condition score (BCS) to monitor that their animals are nutritionally adequate. To maintain strong resilience and resistance against GINs, growing animals should achieve> 100 g / day weight gain and adults should maintain> 2.5 BCS. It has also been confirmed that many LDF plant species contain secondary compounds (SC) that can affect the biology of different life stages of GIN, so they could be used as nutraceuticals. However, some SC can also adversely affect the digestion and absorption of nutrients in sheep and goats, so they must be used with care. The presence of plants containing SC with anthelmintic activity has made it possible to explore the capacity of animals to self-medicate. In these studies, it has been shown that goats do not express a “curative” self-medication behavior against GINs but do exhibit “preventive” self-medication behaviors that could allow them to limit their GIN burdens. However, animals seem to favor a preventive behavior aimed at avoiding nitrogen:energy imbalances in the consumed diet. <strong>Implications:</strong> Many LDF plant species have a high potential to be used for both nutritional and medicinal purposes in small ruminants, therefore, these species could be considered as a nutraceutical resource. <strong>Conclusions.</strong> The work carried out in the last 3 decades has shown us that the optimal use of LDF by sheep and goats will be achieved through a better understanding of the interaction between animals, their GIN and the plants of the LDF.<strong></strong></p>

Prevalence, Awareness Level and Attitude of Self-Medication Among Student Nurses

Self-medication is an alternative for high cost medicines. Inappropriate practice of self-medication wastes resources, increases drug resistance, and poses a major health risk. The goal of this study was to look at nursing students' understanding, attitudes, and behavior about self-medication. This research was conducted among nursing students of mayo hospital of Pakistan in 2021. This survey comprised 301 student nurses in total. The students' knowledge, attitude, and behavior of self-medication were assessed using a three-part research based questionnaire. SPSS software was used to conduct the statistical analysis. According to the results majority of students of first year are with age group 20-23 years old involved in self-medication. Among all year students 94.02% were single and ratio of using self-prescribed medicines (32.89%) 2-3 times in last six months. 95.02% preferred oral route of administration and highest percentage (76.08%) experience no side effects. Results depicted relatively excessive use of antibiotics and other drugs which may lead to drug resistance and other adverse health effects, thus clinical research students should be educated about this. A legislation restricting free access to drugs must also be implemented and enforced by the government both at national and international level

Self-Medication Practices: A Threatening Challenge

Background and Objectives: Self-Medication is a growing concern for the health authorities especially in Urban population. This research was aimed to find the various determinants of Self-Medication and to assess the influence of Pharmacists, Perception about doctors, Self- Knowledge gaining attitude of the patients on Self-Medication.
 Methods: This study was conducted in Nagpur city with a random sample constituting house wives, students, professionals and Businessman. The sample size was 71. Descriptive analyses, correlation analyses and multiple regressions were performed using SPSS Version 21.0.
 Results: The results indicated that 80% of the housewives take the medicines on the basis of previous prescription, word of mouth or on the suggestion of the pharmacist. It was alarming to find that 76% of the students took the medicines on the basis of web search. Fever (39%), headache (33%) & Abdominal pain (23%) are the prominent reasons for Self-Medication. There was a positive correlation between Advice of Pharmacist, Self-knowledge collection attitude of the patient with the Self-Medication behavior. NSAID’s, anti-allergen and antibiotics are the most frequently used drugs.
 Conclusion: Self-medication is an important health issue prevalent in India. Over the counter (OTC) and Old prescriptions available with the patients leads to rise in Self-Medication. There should be a strict regulatory control on procurement of drugs from the pharmacist.

Prevalence of pain and self-medication pattern of Paracetamol and NSAIDs among university students in United Arab Emirates

Background: Most of individuals do not prefer consulting a physician when they suffer from mild to moderate pain or fever and they tend to get over the counter drugs (OTC) from the pharmacy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) consumption pattern and self-medication behavior is a common practice especially during adolescence. Many self-medication behaviors were observed from individuals especially students which use NSAIDs frequently and that might lead to some unwanted effects due to improper knowledge and awareness. Although NSAIDs are considered as safe medications in general, but serious side effects are still present and can affect different parts of the body. Objectives: Our study aims to assess the correlation between several types of pain and self-medication pattern of Paracetamol and NSAIDs among university students in UAE. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted among individuals aged 17 years and above from different nationalities and specialties from June till July 2018. The data were obtained through a validated self-administrated questionnaire that was distributed as a hardcopy as well as online. Data collection took place in UAE universities targeting 345 university students. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and the results were considered significant at the 0.05 level with a 95% Confidence interval. Results: The current study results show that (67%) of individuals use pain medications to relief pain associated with headache. The majority of individuals reported that they suffer from pain at least one day weekly (26.4%). The pain that mostly led individuals to take pain medications is headache and it is accounts for (67%). The most frequently used pain medication is Paracetamol (80.9%) followed by Ibuprofen, Mefenamic acid and Diclofenac (35.4%, 17.1% and 13.6%) respectively. It was observed that (28.4%) of individuals use more than one pain medication at the same time. The results show that there was a significant correlation between the intake of Mefenamic acid for pain and individuals that reported the use of pain medications for menstrual pain [p=0.000, OR: 5.223, 95% CI: 2.73 - 9.96]. The significant intake of Aspirin for back pain [p=0.020, OR: 3.239, 95% CI: 1.159 - 9.05] and Diclofenac for both muscles pain and back pain back pain [p=0.000, OR: 3.061, 95% CI: 1.792 - 5.228), p=0.000, OR: 3.037, 95% CI: 1.789 - 5.15 respectively] and Paracetamol for both toothache and fever [p=0.002, OR: 1.220, 95% CI: 1.120 - 1.32 and p=0.044, OR: 1.137, 95% CI: 1.027 - 1.259 respectively]. The following NSAIDs showed a significant correlation with the intake of pain medications for toothache: Aspirin [p=0.018, OR: 3.167, 95% CI: 1.171 - 8.56], Ibuprofen [p=0.004, OR: 1.618, 95% CI: 1.201 - 2.17] and Diclofenac [p=0.000, OR: 2.692, 95% CI: 1.591 - 4.55]. Only Paracetamol was found to have a significant correlation for the use during fever [p=0.044, OR: 1.137, 95% CI: 1.027 - 1.259] while other pain medications were found to have a negative correlation. Conclusion: The majority of respondents use the pain medications to relief headache and the most frequently used pain medication was Paracetamol. A significant correlation was observed between the intake of Mefenamic acid for pain and individuals that reported the use of pain medications for menstrual pain as well as Aspirin intake for back pain, Diclofenac for muscles pain and back pain. Only Paracetamol was found to have a significant correlation for the use during fever while other pain medications were found to have a negative correlation.

Increasing Knowledge and Promoting Better Attitude towards Appropriate Self-Medication in Sungai Ambawang Community through CBIA

Self-medication practice in the community tends to increase. One of the factors that influence this trend is the variation of non-prescription drugs and advertisements. Although in self-medication people are allowed to determine their own medication, but it has the potential to create problems. Sungai Ambawang Sub-district is one of the trans Kalimantan; accordingly the medicine products from outside West Kalimantan can be transported through this area. This community service activity (PKM) aimed to increase knowledge and encourage positive attitudes, so that their behavior of self-medication becomes appropriate. This PKM was carried out by the method of communitybased interactive approach (CBIA) in 2 steps. This activity involved 66 community health center cadres. The participants’ knowledge and attitude were measured twice (pretest and posttest) through questionnaires, then analyzed descriptively and statistically using the Wilcoxon test. The observations showed that most of the participants had bought medicines without a prescription for self-medication (78.7%), obtained the medicine from pharmacies (65.2%), purchased medicines over the counter (45.4%), and frequently used analgesic-antipyretics (77%). The results of the Wilcoxon test showed that there were significant differences between knowledge and attitudes before and after CBIA intervention. Based on the results of this intervention, it was concluded that the CBIA intervention done as the PKM activity could increase knowledge and encourage positive attitudes regarding appropriate self-medication practices.

Bringing Medicine from Pakistan and Self-Medication Among Pakistani Mothers in New Zealand.

Worldwide migration leads to people bringing beliefs and practices from one country into another, including those related to self-medication. This study explores the self-medication practices of Pakistani mothers for their children and their reasons for self-medication. We interviewed 23 immigrants. Each interview lasted 60–80 min and was conducted in Urdu. Participants had been living in New Zealand on average 3.25 years. They talked about their prior knowledge and experiences regarding self-medication behaviour for their children. The majority of the mothers treat their children at home before visiting a general practitioner (GP) due to previous unsatisfactory experiences. There was a significant relationship between participants who had family members in healthcare professions, their experiences of healthcare services and self-medication. Bringing medicines from Pakistan is a key source for self-medication practices. Self-medication awareness programs could help mothers to practice safe and responsible use of medicines for the benefit of their children.

Self-medication Behavior with antibiotics: a national cross-sectional survey in Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT Background Antibiotic self-medication is common in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the Sri Lankan public’s knowledge about and attitudes toward antibiotic use and self-medication, and factors associated with self-medication. Methods A national cross-sectional, interviewer-administered, survey of a random household sample (N = 1100) was conducted. Factor analysis of the attitudinal items was conducted to investigate the factors associated with antibiotic self-medication. Results A response rate of ninety-one percent (n = 998) responded. Knowledge about antibiotics was poor (mean = 12.5; SD = 3.5; (scale 0–27)). Half had previously used an antibiotic once in the past three months. About 11% (108/998) had self-medicated the last time they took antibiotics; mostly obtained from a pharmacy (82%; 89/108). Three attitudinal factors were obtained, explaining 56.1% of the variance. Respondents were less likely to self-medicate if they did not support ease of access to antibiotics from pharmacies (p< 0.001) and situational use of antibiotics (p= 0.001); supported appropriate use of antibiotics (p= 0.003); and had greater knowledge about prescription requirements for antibiotics (p= 0.004). Conclusion There is limited knowledge about, and a high rate of self-medication with antibiotics.Factors contributing to self-medication could be addressed with appropriate public education campaigns, and policy changes.

Self-Medication with Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drugs and Illness Behavior in Nigerian Artisans

Background: Self-medication (SM), the use of drugs by individuals to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms is one of the major health problems. Objectives: The study assessed the patterns and links between SM and illness behavior in Nigerian artisans. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, a multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 186 participants (age range = 15 - 61 years; mean = 31.5) in the Ede community of Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. The artisans (beauticians, autoworkers, and house building construction workers) responded to the self-medication test (SMT) and Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ). Frequency counts were employed to analyze the participants' demographic characteristics, while linear regression analysis was used to answer the research question. Results: The findings from this study revealed a 47.8% prevalence of SM, ranging from 14.2% of antibiotics SM to 51.1% of alternative medicine SM. SM was observed to independently and significantly predict disease conviction (R2 = 0.030, P = 0.018), psychological/somatic perception (R2 = 0.034, P = 0.012), general illness reaction (R2 = 0.064, P = 0.000), and general illness behavior (R2 = 0.028, P = 0.023) of the participants. Conclusions: Our findings revealed the need for an increase in public enlightenment, awareness, and sensitization among artisans on ills of SM. Also, we recommend psycho-education among this vulnerable group.

Prevalence of antibiotic self-medication behavior and related factors among children aged 0 to 5 years

ABSTRACT Background: Self-medication behavior has great adverse effects on children. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) among children aged 0–5 years and explore the related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 1 July 2019 to 31 July 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province (Central China). A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 1188 parents of children aged 0–5 years on sociodemographic characteristics, SMA among children, antibiotic knowledge and health beliefs of SMA. Results: Of the 1188 participants, 14.32% had self-medicated their children with antibiotics in the past 6 months. The higher the degree of perceived threat (OR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.89–1.00) and self-efficacy (OR = 0.94, 95%CI: 0.89–0.98), the less likely parents were to self-medicate their children. On the contrary, the higher the degree of perceived barriers, the more likely parents were to self-medicate their children with antibiotics (OR = 1.058, 95%CI: 1.01–1.11). Conclusions: Health beliefs of parents were significantly associated with SMA among children. In addition to extensive health education, the Chinese government should also improve the accessibility and quality of health services to reduce the barriers of parental behavior change.

Use of eye drops self-medication in Aseer region, Southern Saudi Arabia

Background: Self-medication is defined as the use of drugs to manage a self-diagnosed disease or complaint, or the intermittent or continued use of a prescribed drug for chronic or recurrent disease or symptoms. Self-medication includes getting medications without a prescription, resubmitting old prescriptions to buy medicines, sharing medicines with relatives or members of one’s social circle, or using leftover medicines stored at home. Risks are related to many factors including not only the possible severe side effects of the drug itself, but also hazardous because of improper treatment. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used targeting all population in Aseer region. The study was conducted during the period from May 2020 to August 2020. Data were collected using structured questionnaire which was developed by the researchers after intensive literature review and expert’s consultation. The questionnaire data included person’s socio-demographic data such as age, gender, and education. The second section of the questionnaire covered eye drops self-medication data. The questionnaire was uploaded online using social media platforms by the researchers and their relatives and friends to be filled in by all population in Aseer region. Results: A total of 209 participants completed the study questionnaire. Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 65 years old with mean age of 32.9 ± 11.6 years. Exactly 152 (72.7%) participants were females and 158 (75.6%) had educational level of university or more. Regarding persons who advised participants to use eye drops, the most reported was the person themself (34.4%; 72) followed by family and friends (29.2%), and pharmacist (20.6%). As for causes of using unprescribed eye drops, 105 (50.2%) participants used the eye drops for itching in the eye, followed by eye redness (47.4%), eye pain (22.5%). Regarding side effects of used drops, the most reported was excessive lacrimation (5.7%), followed by blurred vision (5.7%), and eye inflammations (4.3%), Conclusions: In conclusion, the study revealed that there is a large portion of Aseer region population practicing self-medicating behavior based on their own concept or advice from friends and family most of the time, without consulting a specialized physician. Key words: Eye drops, self-medication, unprescribed, use, population, causes, practice

PENGARUH IKLAN OBAT FLU DI TELEVISI TERHADAP PERILAKU SWAMEDIKASI

The high prevalence of flu and the easy availability of drugs in the market and at relatively affordable prices are one of the driving forces for self-medicating by the community. In addition, increasingly sophisticated technological advances make it easy for people to get information, one of which is drug advertisements on television that can influence consumer behavior in the selection of drugs used in self-medication. This research was conducted with the aim of knowing the effect of cold medicine advertisements on television on self-medication behavior in the community of Karang Intan District. This research method is a descriptive observational study with a cross sectional design. The sampling technique was carried out using non-random sampling method, namely accidental sampling, and the number of respondents was 100 people. The data collected comes from questionnaire data, which is filled in by respondents accompanied by researchers. Descriptive data analysis was performed by using the chi square test. The results showed that the effect of cold medicine advertisements on television on self-medicated behavior in the community of Karang Intan District has a significant p value of 0.000. The conclusion is that the advertisement of cold medicine on television has an influence on self-medication behavior in the community of Karang Intan District.

Information or Habit: What Health Policy Makers Should Know about the Drivers of Self-Medication among Romanians.

We use the Knowledge, Perceptions and Practices framework to analyze determinants of three types of self-medication practices in Romania: (1) self-medication in the case of cold/flu/viral infections; (2) taking non-prescribed medicine in general; and (3) self-medication based on recommendations by others. We analyzed 706 responses to an online survey and used a factor-based Partial Least Squares algorithm (PLSF) to estimate the relationships between each type of self-medication and possible predictors. Our results show that self–medication is strongly predicted by non-cognitive behavioral factors such as habits and similarity of symptoms, while cognitive determinants such as knowledge and understanding of potential risks are not significantly associated with self-medication behaviors. This paper identifies nonlinear relationships among self-medication practices and its predictors and discusses how our results can help policymakers calibrate interventions with better accuracy.

Predictors of Self-medication in Iran: A Notional Survey Study.

While logical use of medicine is a priority in all health systems, people do self-medication- mainly using Nonprescription Drugs or Over the Counter (OTC) drugs- for different reasons. Self-medication is rising in many developing countries that could increase healthcare expenditure. The present study aimed to find the self-medication rate and predisposing, enabling, and need factors affecting it based on the Anderson behavioral model in the Iranian population. The present study uses 22470 households’ data acquired from Iranian utilization of healthcare survey at the national level (2016). Due to the study objective, the data of 13005 people who were over 15 years old and had outpatient healthcare needs two weeks before the survey. The survey included a binary question about self-medication, which is considered a dependent variable. Age, gender, marital status, literacy, job status, socio-economic status, location, basic health insurance, complementary health insurance, and need for health services were considered as independent variables. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. The self-medication rate was calculated at 26.3% that was different among different subgroups of the population. According to the model estimates, married (OR = 0.80, CI = 0.71-0.91) and housekeepers (OR = 0.79, CI = 0.67-0.93) had significantly lower self-medication. Moreover, the urban population (OR = 1.29, CI = 1.17-1.43), people without basic (OR = 1.32, CI = 1.10-1.58), and supplementary (OR = 1.18, CI = 1.04-1.35) health insurance and also people who had two or higher number of outpatient healthcare needs had significantly more self-medication (OR = 2.96, CI = 2.67-3.29). It can be concluded that need, enabling, and predisposing factors are respectively the main determinants of self-medication behavior. From a policy point of view, increasing effective health insurance coverage with a focus on people who have more health care needs can be helpful.