CLINICAL RESEARCH
Self-medication practice among adults in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
1
Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, Saudi Arabia
2
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Submission date: 2023-05-07
Final revision date: 2023-08-28
Acceptance date: 2023-10-02
Publication date: 2023-10-16
Corresponding author
Arch Med Sci Civil Dis 2023;8(1):38-46
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Self-medication (SM) is defined as drug utilization based on a patient’s self-diagnosis, without consultation of any healthcare members. Despite being common among most communities, it carries a risk of medication errors. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence, awareness, and practices related to SM, including risky practices among adults in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Material and methods:
A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted in Jeddah KSA. The sample size was 312 participants (as calculated by using the Epi-info CDC software calculator). They were recruited by volunteer sampling technique, through online propagation of a questionnaire, which was designed and assessed for validity and reliability. It was composed of 3 sections: demographics, assessment of awareness, and practices related to SM, including risky practices. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS-25.
Results:
SM was practiced by 83% of the studied population. The prevalence of excellent, fair, and poor levels of awareness about SM were 12.4%, 45.6%, and 42%, respectively. Risky practices like using expired SMs, using SMs without checking expiry dates or without reading the instructions, using SMs during pregnancy or lactation, and continued use of SMs despite lack of improvement were identified among 5%, 12%, 39%, 11%, and 33% of participants, respectively.
Conclusions:
An inappropriate level of awareness and a high prevalence of risky practices related to SM were identified among the studied sample of adults in KSA. It is critical to raise public awareness of SM to avoid SM-related health concerns.
Self-medication (SM) is defined as drug utilization based on a patient’s self-diagnosis, without consultation of any healthcare members. Despite being common among most communities, it carries a risk of medication errors. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence, awareness, and practices related to SM, including risky practices among adults in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Material and methods:
A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted in Jeddah KSA. The sample size was 312 participants (as calculated by using the Epi-info CDC software calculator). They were recruited by volunteer sampling technique, through online propagation of a questionnaire, which was designed and assessed for validity and reliability. It was composed of 3 sections: demographics, assessment of awareness, and practices related to SM, including risky practices. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS-25.
Results:
SM was practiced by 83% of the studied population. The prevalence of excellent, fair, and poor levels of awareness about SM were 12.4%, 45.6%, and 42%, respectively. Risky practices like using expired SMs, using SMs without checking expiry dates or without reading the instructions, using SMs during pregnancy or lactation, and continued use of SMs despite lack of improvement were identified among 5%, 12%, 39%, 11%, and 33% of participants, respectively.
Conclusions:
An inappropriate level of awareness and a high prevalence of risky practices related to SM were identified among the studied sample of adults in KSA. It is critical to raise public awareness of SM to avoid SM-related health concerns.
REFERENCES (38)
1.
Al-Ghamdi S, Alfauri TM, Alharbi MA, et al. Current self-medication practices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: an observational study. Pan Afr Med J 2020; 37: 51.
2.
Siraj EA, Yayehrad AT, Kassaw AT, et al. Self-medication prevalence and factors associated with knowledge and attitude towards self-medication among undergraduate health science students at GAMBY Medical and Business College, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Patient Prefer Adherence 2022; 16: 3157-72.
3.
Malik M, Tahir MJ, Jabbar R, et al. Self-medication during Covid-19 pandemic: challenges and opportunities. Drugs Ther Perspect 2020; 36: 565-7.
4.
Alzoubi A, Nasor EM, Suliman EMO, et al. A comparative piloting of determinants of self-medication among University students in the MENA region; UAE and Jordan as an example. Patient Prefer Adherence 2023; 17: 699-709.
5.
Quincho-Lopez A, Benites-Ibarra CA, Hilario-Gomez MM, et al. Self-medication practices to prevent or manage COVID-19: a systematic review. PLoS One 2021; 16: e0259317.
6.
Wilbur K, Salam SE, Mohammadi E. Patient perceptions of pharmacist roles in guiding self-medication of over-the-counter therapy in Qatar. Patient Prefer Adherence 2010; 4: 87-93.
7.
Farahani I, Farahani S, Deters MA, et al. Training pharmacy students in self-medication counseling using an objective structured clinical examination-based approach. J Med Educ Curric Dev 2021; 8: 23821205211016484.
8.
Selvaraj K, Kumar SG, Ramalingam A. Prevalence of self-medication practices and its associated factors in Urban Puducherry, India. Perspect Clin Res 2014; 5: 32-6.
9.
Saedder EA, Brock B, Nielsen LP, et al. Identifying high-risk medication: a systematic literature review. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2014; 70: 637-45.
10.
Yla-Rautio H, Siissalo S, Leikola S. Drug-related problems and pharmacy interventions in non-prescription medication, with a focus on high-risk over-the-counter medications. Int J Clin Pharm 2020; 42: 786-95.
11.
Perrot S, Cittee J, Louis P, et al. Self-medication in pain management: the state of the art of pharmacists’ role for optimal Over-The-Counter analgesic use. Eur J Pain 2019; 23: 1747-62.
12.
Behzadifar M, Behzadifar M, Aryankhesal A, et al. Prevalence of self-medication in university students: systematic review and meta-analysis. East Mediterr Health J 2020; 26: 846-57.
13.
Kanwal ZG, Fatima N, Azhar S, et al. Implications of self-medication among medical students-A dilemma. J Pak Med Assoc 2018; 68: 1363-7.
14.
Arrais PS, Fernandes MEP, da Silva Dal Pizzol T, et al. Prevalence of self-medication in Brazil and associated factors. Rev Saude Publica 2016; 50 (Suppl 2): 13s.
15.
Barros-Sevillano JS, Sandoval CP, Alcarraz-Mundial LS, Barboza JJ. Self-medication in times of COVID-19. A perspective from Peru. Gac Med Mex 2021; 157: 116.
16.
Ibrahim NK, Alamoudi BM, Baamer WO, Al-Raddadi RM. Self-medication with analgesics among medical students and interns in King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Pak J Med Sci 2015; 31: 14-8.
17.
Khan SD, Al-Garni M, Alalhareth FA, et al. Data on self-medication among healthcare students at Najran University, KSA. Bioinformation 2020; 17: 599-607.
18.
Mathias EG, D’Souza A, Prabhu S. Self-medication practices among the adolescent population of South Karnataka, India. J Environ Public Health 2020; 2020: 9021819.
19.
Tesfamariam S, Anand IS, Kaleab G, et al. Self-medication with over-the-counter drugs, prevalence of risky practice and its associated factors in pharmacy outlets of Asmara, Eritrea. BMC Public Health 2019; 19: 159.
20.
Kawuma R, Chimukuche RS, Francis AS, et al. Knowledge, use (misuse) and perceptions of over-the-counter analgesics in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review. Glob Health Action 2021; 14: 1955476.
21.
Althumairy RI. Exploring the quality of life for Saudi patients utilizing dental healthcare services: a systematic review. J Multidiscip Healthc 2022; 15: 309-15.
22.
Tagliaferri L, Vavassori A, Lancellotta V, et al. INTERACTS (INTErventional Radiotherapy ACtive Teaching School) consensus conference on sarcoma interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) endorsed by AIRO (Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology). J Contemp Brachytherapy 2020; 12: 397-404.
23.
Calamusa A, di Marzio a, Cristofani R, et al. Factors that influence Italian consumers’ understanding of over-the-counter medicines and risk perception. Patient Educ Couns 2012; 87: 395-401.
24.
Jairoun AA, Al-Hemyari SS, Shahwan M, et al. Assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice of community pharmacists on the pain management and implications in UAE children. Pharm Pract (Granada) 2022; 20: 2664.
25.
Bell J, Dziekan G, pollack C, Mahachai V. Self-care in the twenty-first century: a vital role for the pharmacist. Adv Ther 2016; 33: 1691-703.
26.
Tan ECK, Eshetie TC, Gray SL, Marcum ZA. Dietary supplement use in middle-aged and older adults. J Nutr Health Aging 2022; 26: 133-8.
27.
Helwig A, Smulders Y. Toxicity of vitamin supplements. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2020; 164: D4762.
28.
Bossard V, Bourmeyster N, Pasini S, et al. Problematic rise of vitamin B6 supplementation overuse and potential risk to bariatric surgery patients. Nutrition 2022; 102: 111738.
29.
Slatore CG, Littman AJ, Au DH, et al. Long-term use of supplemental multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folate does not reduce the risk of lung cancer. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008; 177: 524-30.
30.
Hamishehkar H, Ranjdoost F, Asgharian P, et al. Vitamins, are they safe? Adv Pharm Bull 2016; 6: 467-77.
31.
Figueiredo JC, Grau MV, Haile RW, et al. Folic acid and risk of prostate cancer: results from a randomized clinical trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 2009; 101: 432-5.
32.
Omenn GS, Goodman GE, Thornquist MD, et al. Effects of a combination of beta carotene and vitamin A on lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med 1996; 334: 1150-5.
33.
Guillonneau M, Jacqz-Aigrain E. Teratogenic effects of vitamin A and its derivates. Arch Pediatr 1997; 4: 867-74.
34.
Jackson HA, Sheehan AH. Effect of vitamin A on fracture risk. Ann Pharmacother 2005; 39: 2086-90.
35.
Gikonyo D, Gikonyo A, Luvayo D, Ponoth P. Drug expiry debate: the myth and the reality. Afr Health Sci 2019; 19: 2737-9.
36.
Westerlund T, Barzi S, Bernstein C. Consumer views on safety of over-the-counter drugs, preferred retailers and information sources in Sweden: after re-regulation of the pharmacy market. Pharm Pract (Granada) 2017; 15: 894.
37.
Elmahi OKO, Musa RAE, Shareef AAH, et al. Perception and practice of self-medication with antibiotics among medical students in Sudanese universities: a cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2022; 17: e0263067.
38.
Eltom EH, Alanazi AL, Alenezi JF, et al. Self-medication with antibiotics and awareness of antibiotic resistance among the population in Arar city, Saudi Arabia. J Infect Dev Ctries 2022; 16: 1762-7.
| ISSN: | 2451-0637 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
