Self-medication Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Viewpoints of Undergraduate University Students towards Self-Medication: An Institution-Based Study in Riyadh.

Rational and responsible self-medication (SM) is not only the key to better health outcomes, but also key to limiting adverse drug events. This institution-based cross-sectional study utilized seven- and four-item scales to assess the knowledge and attitude towards SM. Similarly, SM practices were measured using eight scale questions consisting of SM practice during the last six months, type of drug consumed, reason and frequency of SM, and so on. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. Overall, 371 students completed the questionnaire. The students with a good level of knowledge and positive attitude towards SM were 60.64% and 66.8%, respectively. About 55.5% of students practiced SM during the last six months using antipyretics (37.7%), multivitamins (36.4%), sleeping aids (20.2%), and anti-histamines (18.6%). Headache (79.2%), fever (37.7%), pain (25.9%), and colds and coughs (25.3%) were the illnesses for which they sought SM. The students admitted that drug side effects (75%), drug resistance (33.7%), drug interaction (41.5%), and poor treatment outcome (28.3%) were the consequences of irrational SM practice. Students (87.6%) propose that extending SM awareness through the Ministry of Health (83%) and pharmaceutical companies (48%) as major platforms would improvise the rational practice. Since AlMaarefa University students will be future healthcare professionals, their perception must be considered and accordingly educated to practice rational SM.

Self-medication, used medications, and symptoms among nurses providing care to pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019

Background and aims: The prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among nurses who provide care to pregnant women may lead to self-medication (SM) among them as well as recommendation of SM to pregnant women. There is limited information about SM among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to evaluate SM, used medications, and symptoms among nurses providing care to pregnant women with COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted in a four-month period from March 21 to July 22, 2020. Participants were 125 nurses who were providing care to pregnant women in Imam Reza teaching hospital, Tabriz, Iran. A sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire and a questionnaire on SM contributing factors were used to collect the data. The SPSS software (v. 21.0) was used to analyze the data at a significance level of less than 0.05 through the chi-square test. Results: The prevalence of SM among nurses was 40.83%. SM had significant relationship with the use of antibiotics (P=0.012), herbal medicines (P=0.028), multivitamins (P=0.035), and analgesics (P=0.044). Moreover, SM had significant relationship with nausea (P=0.036), fever (P=0.019), headache (P=0.044), and diarrhea (P=0.021). Conclusion: SM is highly prevalent among nurses who provide care to pregnant women with COVID-19.

Data on self-medication among healthcare students at Najran University, KSA.

The prevalence of self-medication (SM) has increased in health professionals due to awareness of disease and symptoms. Incorrect use of medication caused harmful effects. To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of health professionals, this survey was conducted. A cross-sectional study was carried out among health professionals of different specialities. Knowledge, attitude and practice-based questions were asked through an electronically distributed questionnaire. Data were statistically tested using the Chi-square test with SPSS. Most of the health professionals were aware with the term of self-medication; however the knowledge about related questions was not satisfactory. Almost half of the participants practiced self-medication. The prevalence of self-medication among participants was high. They need to be trained and educate about the incorrect use of self-medication.

Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Medication with Antifungal Drugs and Herbal Products Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study from Egypt.

Background and PurposeIrrational use of drugs for self-medication (SM) is a worldwide public health problem which results in treatment failure, economic loss, and increased burden of morbidity and mortality. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore SM with antifungal drugs and herbal products among university students in Egypt.MethodsA cross-sectional sectional study was conducted over 7 months among 403 university students in Egypt. The students were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire through an online Google form. Questionnaire items included socio-demographic characteristics of the students, practice of and attitude towards SM with antifungal drugs, and SM with herbal products.ResultsPrevalence of SM with antifungal drugs among students stood at 38.2%. The main reasons for SM with antifungal drugs were perceiving their health problem as being minimal, followed by having fears of a doctor’s visit. About 73% of the students thought that SM was not a safe practice. Older age (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI= 1.3–1.8), affiliation to a private university (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI= 2.2–6.4), and being a medical student (AOR =2.4, 95% CI= 1.3–4.5) were the significant predictors of SM with antifungal drugs. A high prevalence of SM with herbal products (70.7%) was reported, with most students having used some form of herbal weight loss preparation (64%). Being a Cairo resident (AOR= 2.4, 95% CI =1.5–3.8, P<0.05) and being a medical student (AOR= 2.1, 95% CI =1.3–3.4, P<0.05) were the significant predictors of SM with herbal products.ConclusionIn the current study, SM was common among Egyptian university students. Providing counseling and public health education to university students with regards to SM is crucial. Implementing strict regulations and the full enforcement of excitant laws pertaining to the use of medication supplies is also needed. Herbal products should face the scrutiny of evidence-based medicine. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of SM among university students.

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.

Automedication in utentes of the municipality of Almada

Introduction With the evolution of accessibility to medication in the 1970s and 1980s, self-medication (SM) was generalised, becoming an integral part of health self-care – an independent act of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the diseases of self without professional counselling [1,2]. In a more global concept, SM may be considered as the act by which the individual, on his own initiative or through the influence of others, decides to use a drug for relief or treatment of self-reported grievances [3]. This concept essentially encompasses two forms: responsible SM where the individual should be informed about the non-prescription medicines (MNSRM) through the leaflets and health technicians, so that they use it efficiently and safely. Non-responsible SM is one in which there is no information about MNSRM and where self-diagnosis occurs [4]. The objectives of the study are: verify the percentage of SM and characterise it in the adult users of the municipality of Almada, verify if there is a relation between the practice of SM with the sociodemographic variables – age, sex and literacy. Materials and methods Type of study: descriptive-correlational. The sample was non-probabilistic, accidental. 321 inhabitants of the municipality of Almada were inquired, aged over 16 years, when leaving pharmacies between May and June 2018. A 90% confidence interval and 1.88 standard deviations were used. The information was collected through a survey with 14 questions asked directly to subjects, which was validated with 20 pre-tests. All respondants gave their consent when answering to the survey. Results Percentage of SM: 50.16%; Mean of participants was 55 years old and standard deviation of 17.2. 113 cases for the feminine gender, 48 cases for male gender; 35 cases for age (57–66) as the most representative class; Spearman corr. where: between gender and SM, r s= 0.101, p < .01, positive and significant; between SM and literacy r s=–0.350, p < .001, negative and significant; between SM and age r s= 0.422, p < .001, positive and significant. Discussion and conclusions It is verified that the percentage of self-medication is about half of the respondents, being superior in the female sex and more represented by the age group of 57–66 years. There is direct and significant relation between SM and gender and SM and age. On the other hand there is an inverse and significant relation between SM and literacy.

Knowledge and practice of self-medication.

Self-medication (SM) is the usage of medicines to resolve self-identified health issues, and it is quite common in many countries. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of SM among attendants at an outpatient clinic of a Baghdad teaching hospital at Baghdad Medical City as well as to determine association of SM practice with some socio-demographic factors. The current cross-sectional study was conducted with about 460 people attending outpatients at Baghdad teaching hospital from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019. The highest proportion of participants, 176 (44%), was found in the age group of 18-30 years, with 290 (72.5%) females representing the study sample. Around two-thirds (266) of participants were married, and a higher proportion of participants, 218 (54.5%), were government employees; in all, 77 (19%) of participants were either unemployed or housewives. A total of 241 (60%) participants of the study sample were graduates and 74 (18.5%) postgraduates. Considering monthly income, 140 (35%) participants were earning below Iraqi Dinar 5,00,000. Of all the participants, 12 (43%) of them were concerned about the side effects of taking medicines, and 9 of them (32%) due to require medical experiences, 5 of them (18%) due to the risk of missing a diagnosis, and another 4 of them (14%) and 100 of them (27%) of participants used medicine leaflets, 86 (23%) of them used previous prescription, while 67 (18%) of study participants asking the nurse or health assistant, and reminder 41 (11%) used the mass media as a source of information about medicines. The majority of participants, 331 (89%), depended on private pharmacies and only 37 (10%) of them depended on paramedics. About half of the participants, 167 (45%), mentioned name of the medicine while requesting, and 115 (31%) participants mentioned symptoms of the disease to pharmacist, and only 90 (24%) purchased the drug container (bottles, boxes, etc.). SM is a common healthcare practice among the attendants outpatients at Baghdad teaching hospital with different socio-demographic characteristic. SM is more prevalent in young age group and among low-income people, hence there was a significant association between age and SM practice, as elderly people practice less SM because of chronic diseases and their use of multiple medicines. In addition, SM practice has increased due to the availability of medicines and their easy access from pharmacies.

Evaluation of self-medication practices among undergraduate medical students in a medical institute of North India

Background: The prevalence of self-medication (SM) all over the world is high ranging from 31% up to 81.5%. Medical students and health-care professionals because of the competitiveness, commitment, and regularity in studying or work find it difficult to take medical consultations and can resort to SM. Aim and Objective: This study is designed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for SM among population of medical students over the past 2 months in a medical institute in North India. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study conducted among the 1st and 5th semester students of a medical institute in North India, from May 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016. After taking informed consent, data were collected using a structured and pre-validated questionnaire. Data obtained were analyzed statistically using SPSS version 16 using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 138 students consented to participate in the present study, of which 42.8% were male and 57.2% were female. About 42% and 58% were studying in the 1st semester and 5th semester, respectively. We observed that 84 (60.9%) students practiced SM in the preceding 2 months with significant 54 (64.3%) female participants outnumbering male participants 30 (35.7%). The prevalence of SM was significantly more in the 5th semester (90%) as compared to the 1st semester 19%. Headache 18 (21.4%) was the most frequently reported illnesses and analgesics 36 (42.9%) were the most commonly used drug class. Respondents got information about drugs by reading medical textbooks 32 (38.1%) followed by previous prescriptions 8 (9.5%). Conclusion: The widespread use of SM should be checked through implementation of regulations in a stricter manner, to limit the misuse and irrational use of medicine. Although it is difficult to eradicate SM altogether, various measures can be taken to discourage such practices.

Self-medication Survey among Pharmacy Students in Iraq.

Background:Self-medication (SM) is the self-administration of treatment without a medical prescription or consultation or guidance from a physician or a health-care provides.Aim and Objectives:This study aims at understanding the existing prevalence of self-medication (SM) and finding out underlying circumstances among pharmacy students of the two universities.Materials and Methods:A study was undertaken involving pharmacy students of two universities in Baghdad. The students' responses obtained from a self-administered questionnaire were analyzed to assess the prevalence and attitude of students toward SM.Results:The data obtained from a valid questionnaire form answered by 188 students revealed that 63.3% had indulged in SM, and 39.9% reported practicing on rare occasions. The majority (48.9%) relied on the information received from the pharmacist with 44.7% and 16% of them had used over-the-counter and prescription-only medicines, respectively. 54.8% of participants were against SM but reported that it could be used in rare situations.Conclusions:The prevalence of SM was high among study participants. Therefore, necessary steps are needed to create awareness about the irrational use of SM and prevent the sale of medicines without a prescription.

Evaluation of practices of self-medication among undergraduate dental students in Riyadh

Introduction: Self-medication (SM) and purchase of over-the-counter medication have been in practice in medical fields. Dental students have the knowledge of pharmacological drugs and they have a higher chance than the population to indulge in SM. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the practice, awareness, and attitude of undergraduate dental students toward SM and its relation with gender and to assess whether this practice differs among students of different years of study. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using simple random sampling among undergraduate dental students in a private dental college in Riyadh. A self-designed online questionnaire was used to collect data, which was validated and used for the research Results and Discussion: A total of 465 students (31% males and 69% females) responded to the survey. 60% of the students agreed to practice SM and it was significantly (P Conclusion: More than half of the respondents practiced SM for minor illnesses, and it was higher among females and students of preparatory years. There was less awareness among dental students relating to survey items such as importance of completing the course of medicine and adverse drug reactions. This study highlights the need to develop awareness and interventions to assess this health problem among dental undergraduates.

Using chemical drugs and medicinal plants for symptom management among patients receiving chemotherapy

Background: Patients with cancer suffer from different symptoms which can cause discomfort, reduce quality of life, necessitate frequent hospitalization, and impose heavy costs. Health-care providers sometimes overlook symptom management, and hence, patients resort to self-treatment. Objectives: This study sought to assess the use of chemical drugs and medicinal plants for the symptom management among patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 on 186 cancer patients who referred to two chemotherapy centers in Kashan, Iran. Data were collected using a researcher-made instrument consisted of items on demographic characteristics, symptoms, symptom severity and duration, use of chemical drugs and medicinal plants, and their perceived effectiveness. Data were presented using the measures of descriptive statistics and were analyzed using the Spearman's correlation analysis. Results: The most common symptom was fatigue (89.2%), with moderate severity in 51.2% of participants. The least common symptom was vomiting (24.2%), with mild severity in 62.2% of participants. Vitamins and supplements were the most commonly used chemical drugs (40.3%). Chemical drugs had mostly been recommended by health-care providers. Only, 50% of patients with pain and 12.2% of patients with dry mouth and oral ulcer used chemical drugs. Medicinal plants were used by 87.4% of participants, without medical prescription. Conclusion: Cancer patients suffer from many symptoms which need careful assessment and effective management by health-care providers. These patients use medicinal plants more commonly than chemical drugs for symptom management, whereas chemical drugs are more effective. Symptom management among cancer patients is not effective enough, and hence, most of them resort to over-the-counter medicinal plants.

Assessment of Self Medication Practice and Drugs Storage Among South Sudanese Community in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background Self-medication (SM) can be defined as the use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms, or the intermittent or continued use of a prescribed drug for chronic or recurrent disease or symptoms. A number of individuals in developing countries do not attend physicians for their illnesses; instead they commonly use self-medication. Self-medication could be using drugs existing in home like over the counter (OCT) drugs, traditional medicine, prescription only drug. Self-medication is not always bad, hence for the over the counter drugs it is beneficial. Inappropriate storage and use of medicines at home could have a direct influence on public health, the environment and the health-care services and it increases the risk of self-medication. Objective To assess the practice of self-medication and drug storage among South Sudanese community in Addis Ababa. Materials and methods A cross sectional study design was conducted in Addis Ababa city from April 22 to April 26/2019. Data was collected by semi structure-questionnaire consisting questions on general demographic, socio-economic as well as on perceived illness/ symptoms in the past four weeks and actions taken for it. The data collected was screened before it is analyzed. Data analysis was done by using calculator. Results From the total 297 respondents 286 (96.2%) had reported self-medication in the last one month before the study period. The most common types of ailments for which the respondents reported to have practiced self-medication were cough, cold and sore throat 90(30.3%), followed by headache 66(22.2%), diarrhea 52(17.5%) ,abdominal pain 47(15.8%), fever 21(7.07%) and vomiting 10(3.3%). The reasons given for self-medication were; the illness was minor 226(76%) and previous experiences with similar ailments 31 (10.4%) were found to be the two major reasons given by the respondents for self-medication in this study. The majority of the respondents 242(81.4%) who practiced self-medication obtained information on self-medication from friends and 29(9.7%) obtained information from family members. The most frequently used group of drugs used for self-medication were analgesics/antipyretics 177(59.5%) and antimicrobial which account 75(25.2%) each followed by antihelmenthics 24(8.08%).The main source of drugs for SM was in pharmacy 220(74.07%) followed by leftover drugs 41(13.8%) while drug retail outlet, and neighbors and relatives were the suppliers to 12.13% respondents each. Conclusion and recommendation A significant number of respondents (96.2%) use S/M from those perceived illness. Majority of the self-medicated individuals used due to minor illness. The most common category of drugs used was analgesics/antipyretics and antimicrobials. And the reason reported for using S/M was minor illness and previous experience with the illness. Most of respondents obtained drugs easily from pharmacy. So, pharmacies are the major sources of drugs used for S/M. The increased of drugs storage to treat similar illness/symptom and drugs left over from previous use contribute to the increase in the S/M practice. Common drugs store reported by respondents who store modern drugs were analgesic/antipyretic. Most of the respondents stored the drug in locked cabinets. A lot is need to be done in educating the public including the health care providers on the type of illnesses that can be self-diagnosed and self-treated, the type of drugs to be used for S/M, and the proper use of drugs. During dispensing of drugs emphasis should be given to all drug consumers and dispenser because of resistance and side effects of drug is the main challenging problem even in the world. Food, Medicines and Healthcare Administration and Control Authority (FMHACA) needs to effectively implement laws on drug handling and dispensing so as to take necessary measures on illegal providers of drugs.

Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Medication Practices in India: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Self-Medication (SM) is a practice of using medications to treat self-diagnosed symptoms without a legitimate prescription by a health care professional. Alongside posing a burden on a patient, SM practices are associated with certain unfavourable health conditions such as drug-resistance, adverse effects, drug-interactions, including death.Objective To systematically review and quantify the prevalence of SM practices and its associated factors in India.Methods A comprehensive systematic search was performed using scientific databases such as PubMed and Cochrane library for the peer-reviewed research articles that were conducted in India without any language and date restrictions. Studies which were cross-sectional by design and assessing the prevalence and predictors of SM practices in India were considered for the review, and all the relevant articles were screened for their eligibility.Results Of 248 articles, a total of 17 articles comprising of 10,248 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, the mean prevalence of SM practices in India was observed to be 53.57%. Familiarity with the medication appears to be a major reason to practice SM (PR: 30.45; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 17.08-43.82; 6 studies), and the practice was noticed more among individuals from a middle-lower class family with a prevalence rate of 26.31 (95%CI: 2.02-50.60; P<0.0001). Minor ailments were the primary reason for practicing SM (PR: 42.46; 95%CI: 21.87-63.06), among which headache was the most commonly reported (PR: 41.53; 95%CI: 18.05-65.02).Conclusion Self-medication practices are quite frequent in India. While NSAIDs and anti-allergens are the most frequently utilized self-medicated drugs used for headache and cold and cough.

&lt;p&gt;Socioeconomic Inequality in Self-Medication in Iran: Cross-Sectional Analyses at the National and Subnational Levels&lt;/p&gt;

BackgroundSelf-medication (SM) is a public health concern globally. This study aimed to measure socioeconomic inequality in SM and identify its main determinants among Iranian households.MethodsA total of 38,859 households from the 2018 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) were included in the study. Data on SM, household size, age, gender and education status of the head of household, monthly household’s expenditures (as a proxy for socioeconomic status), health insurance coverage and living areas and provinces were obtained for the survey. The concentration curve and the normalized concentration index (Cn) were used to quantify the magnitude of socioeconomic inequality in SM among Iranian households. The Cn was decomposed to identify the main determinants of socioeconomic inequality in SM in Iran.ResultsThe results indicated that 18.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.7% to 18.5%) of households in Iran had SM practice in the past month. The results suggested a higher concentration of SM among the rich households (Cn= 0.0466; 95% CI= 0.0321 to 0.0612) in Iran. The concentration of SM among high SES households was also found in urban (0.0311; 95% CI=0.0112 to 0.0510) and rural (= 0.0513; 95% CI=0.0301 to 0.0726) areas. SM was concentrated among the rich households in Tehran, Qom, Esfahan, Ardebil, Golestan, and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces. In contrast, a higher concentration of SM was found among the poor households in Semnan, North Khorasan, Kerman, Bushehr, and South Khorasan provinces. The decomposition revealed SES of household, itself, as the main contributing factor to the concentration of SM among the wealthy households.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that SM is more concentrated among socioeconomically advantaged households in Iran. Thus, effective evidence-based interventions should be implemented to improve awareness about SM and its negative consequences. Further studies are required to investigate the consequences of SM practice among people.

Carrier Status of S almonella Species Infection among Students in a Tertiarry Institution

Salmonellosis is a major challenge to public health due to its persistence and high rate of recurrence. This study investigated Salmonella infections and associated risk exposures among tertiary students. This cross-sectional study enrolled 100 undergraduate students. Their personal health information and feeding habits were collected using a questionnaire. Fecal specimens were collected and analyzed bacteriologically. The isolates were subjected to antibiotics susceptibility test. Of 100 students enrolled, 38% had Salmonella species. The prevalence rate was Salmonella typhi, 29%, Salmonella. paratyphi A, 6%, and Salmonella enteritidis, 3%. The females accounted for 27% and males 11% of the isolates. The age group of 20-24 years had the highest infection rate. The participants that were not previously diagnosed of Salmonella species infection had a higher carriage rate of 26% than those who were previously diagnosed of typhoid fever (12%), 48% of the students, do not regularly practice hand washing and 63% never had symptoms of typhoid fever. The students patronize food vendors and this accounted for 34% of the Salmonella isolates. Self-medication was associated with the prevalence of Salmonella species (P=0.000; 95% CI). The Salmonella isolates were resistant to Amoxicillin, Cefuroxime and Nitrofurantoin. The carrier rate of Salmonella typhi was high due to antibiotic abuse.

Can Cannabinoids Reduce Pain Associated with Medical Abortion

Although ibuprofen is routinely recommended during medical abortion, many women still find the procedure painful — and some self-medicate with

Self-medication Practices and Knowledge among Lebanese Population: A Cross-sectional Study

Self-medication (SM), practiced globally, is an important public health problem. This is the first study aiming to determine the prevalence of inappropriate usage of drugs among Lebanese patients, assess their knowledge, and identify predicting factors of potentially inappropriate drug intake. This cross-sectional prospective survey was carried out in five Lebanese governorates. A structured interview was done with patients who visited pharmacies. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). A multivariate logistic regression was performed to investigate factors associated with SM, which was reported by 79.1% of 930 interviewed cases. The most common symptoms warranting SM were symptoms relating to ear, nose, and throat diseases (99.0%), gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea and vomiting (75.6%), and cold and flu symptoms (60.1%). Age [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15–1.80; p = 0.002] and sex (ORa = 1.60; CI, 1.16–2.21; p = 0.004) significantly increased the odds of SM. Medication classes commonly consumed by respondents for SM included acetaminophen-based analgesics (48.7%) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (24.6%). Moreover, 83.7% of respondents thought they were knowledgeable about proper dosing of the self-medicated drug (in fact, only 69.0% had adequate knowledge), and 35.5% thought they knew about side effects (assessment showed only 59.5% of them were right). Our study shows that SM is common among Lebanese adults. Hence, reinforcement of laws is necessary to improve access to adequate health care; efforts are needed to increase patients’ education regarding the health risk related to inappropriate consumption of medication.

Demographic, socio-economic and other associated risk factors for self-medication behaviour among university students of Sri Lanka: a cross sectional study

BackgroundSelf-prescribing practices are considered as a significant issue in the health sector due to mal-practices. This has become a more worsen issue in developing countries with easy access to medication. Current study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of self-medication and to evaluate the driving factors behind this behavior, among university students of Sri Lanka.MethodA total of 700 randomly selected undergraduates of three state universities in Sri Lanka, were recruited as the study population for the cross-sectional study. Information on socio-demographic, Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices relevant to Self-Medication (SM) were gathered using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was used to calculate the Odds Ratios (OR) and the 95% confidence intervals of the OR for socio-demographic risk factors on SM.ResultsAround 78% of the studied population denoted a SM behaviour. Only, 37.7% of respondents were familiar with the classification of “Over the Counter” (OTC) drugs, while majority were well aware of the risks of SM (> 50%). Fever (61.3%) and cough (56.7%) were the major health issues for SM, while antipyretics and drugs for cough and runny nose (73.6%) were the mostly used medication. Previous experience (76%) and trivial nature of health issues (73%) were recognized as the major reasons for SM. Majority of respondents declared that community pharmacies (86.9%) and left over medication from previous prescriptions (51%) were the sources for SM. Based on the binary logistic regression, age, residence locality, field of study and academic year were recognized as significant risk factors (P < 0.05) for SM within the studied undergraduate population.ConclusionBased on the high prevalence rate of SM, the health authorities of Sri Lanka should pay more attention towards the wellbeing and responsible medication usage of undergraduates. Designing of effective tools and regulations to monitor the selling of medication and improving the health education are recommended to ensure responsible SM within the country.

Factors driving self-medication with antimicrobials in Karaikal, Puducherry, India

Aims: To determine factors driving individuals to self medicate with antimicrobials and to ascertain the prevalence and practice of consumption of nonprescribed antimicrobials in Karaikal district of union territory of Puducherry, India. Materials and Methods: A structured, validated questionnaire was used to collect data from 504 patients and their relatives visiting the General Hospital, Karaikal. A picture containing a collage of various commonly purchased antimicrobials were shown to the participants to help them recall their SMA in the past 6 months. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions revealed factors affecting SMA. Results: One-third of the participants (33.9%) reported SMA in past 6 months with prevalence significantly affected by male gender (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2–2.79), a preference for SMA during minor illnesses (adjusted OR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.77–5.25) and a history of SMA among family members (adjusted OR = 3.43; 95% CI: 2.16–5.43). The most commonly self-prescribed drug was amoxicillin (55.2%) and the antimicrobials were mostly obtained from pharmacies (91.8%). Self-prescribed antimicrobials were commonly used to treat cold, cough, and fever. Our participants had self-medicated with antimicrobials because they found it easier to do so (32.2%) and as it saved them time (35.7%) and money (32.2%). Conclusions: The prevalence of SMA was found to be high in Karaikal. This misuse of antimicrobials can be lowered by approaching societal-cultural practices through community education, the supply-demand chain through stricter regulations of pharmacies, and enforcing health policies for rational use of antimicrobials.

Self-medication among Alexandria University students and effect of an educational intervention on their self-medication knowledge, attitudes and practices

Background: Self-medication (SM) among university students is a growing prevalent public health concern worldwide. It is highly prevalent in developing countries. SM leads to serious consequences such as drug misuse/abuse and adverse drug reactions. The study aims to determine the prevalence of SM among university students in Alexandria, Egypt and to assess the effect of an educational intervention on their SM knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices (KAP).Methods: The study was conducted among 400 students using a cross sectional approach followed by one group pre/post-test intervention approach. Data were collected using an interviewing questionnaire. A health education program was designed and implemented among students then KAP were reassessed using the same questionnaire.Results: The prevalence of SM was estimated to be 79.5% among Alexandria University students. About one quarter (24.5%) of students had poor level of knowledge about SM and 47.5% had positive attitude towards SM. Logistic regression analysis revealed that father's occupation as clerical, family member working as healthcare professional, medication sharing practice, and total SM knowledge score were the significant independent factors that affected SM. There were significant differences between pre and post intervention KAP scores.Conclusions: The prevalence of SM is high among university students. There is a significant effect of the intervention program on KAP about SM.