Self-medication practice, its causes and risk factors among people in Tehran, Iran: A descriptive-analytic study

الموضوعات : Food and Health

Hesam Aldin Varpaei ¹ (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Pariya Onsori ² (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Faeze Esmaeili ³ (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Saba Abachi ⁴ (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Mohammad Mahdi Miremami ⁵ (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Mohammad Yavari ⁶ (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Hosein Esmaeili ⁷ (Young Researcher and Elite Clube, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Amir Mahdi Farahani ⁸ (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Pedram Nouroozi ⁹ (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Ali Kazemi ¹⁰ (Department of Pharmacology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)

تاريخ الإرسال : 14 الأربعاء , محرم, 1442 تاريخ التأكيد : 22 الأحد , ربيع الأول, 1442 تاريخ الإصدار : 05 الأحد , جمادى الأولى, 1442

الکلمات المفتاحية: analgesics, public health, Self-medication, chronic disease,

ملخص المقالة :

Self-medication practice, unfortunately, is a current issue in different countries. Patterns of self-medication vary among different populations and are influenced by different characteristics. So, this study was aimed at the prevalence of self-medication practice in Tehran. This descriptive-analytic study was performed from Oct 2019 to March 2020 by a researcher-designed questionnaire among people. The main determinants of the questionnaire included personal information, diet pattern, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and self-medication habits. Chi-square and Tukey's post hoc tests were used for statistical analysis of data. Eight hundred people participated in this study. The rate of self-medication was 78% among men and 88% among women. 35.75% of the participants had a chronic illness, and 90% of them had a history of self-medication. A significant correlation between gender and self-medication (p=0.45, r=0.55), also significant correlation between exercise and self-medication (p=0.206, r=0.75), alcohol consumption and self-medication (p=0.37, r=0.19) were not seen. Education and income levels, chronic diseases, history of drug allergies, smoking, and fast-food consumption seem to create self-medication behavior. Having an old doctor's prescription, saving time, as well as advising family members, were the most important reasons for self-medication. The most commonly used medications were analgesics, common cold medicines, and gastrointestinal drugs. Self-medication was mostly used to treat headaches, migraines, and common cold symptoms such as cough and muscle pain.

المصادر:

1. Organization, W.H., Guidelines for the regulatory assessment of Medicinal Products for use in self-medication. 2000, Geneva: World Health Organization.

2. Locquet, M., et al., Adverse health events related to self-medication practices among elderly: a systematic review. Drugs and Aging, 2017. 34(5): p. 359-65.

3. Shaghaghi, A., M. Asadi, and H. Allahverdipour, Predictors of self-medication behavior: a systematic review. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 2014. 43(2):136.

4. HUGHES, Carmel M.; MCELNAY, James C.; FLEMING, Glenda F. Benefits and risks of self medication. Drug Safety, 2001, 24.14:1027-37.

5. WHO. "Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance." 2015;1-19.

6. Rodrigues, Carla F. "Self-medication with antibiotics in Maputo, Mozambique: practices, rationales and relationships." Palgrave Communications, 2020;6(1):1-12.

7. Sarahroodi, Shadi, et al. "Pattern of self-medication with analgesics among Iranian University students in central Iran." Journal of Family & Community Medicine, 2012;19(2):125-9.

8. Ehigiator, Osarobo, et al. "Self-medication practices among dental, midwifery and nursing students." European Journal of General Dentistry, 2013; 2 (1):54-57.

9. Abay, S. M., and W. Amelo. "Assessment of Self-medication practices among medical, pharmacy, health science students in Gondar University, Ethiopia." Journal of Young Pharmacists 2.3 (2010): 306-310.

10. Klemenc-Ketiš, Zalika, Žiga Hladnik, and Janko Kersnik. "A cross sectional study of sex differences in self-medication practices among university students in Slovenia." Collegium Antropologicum, 2011;35(2):329-34.

11. Helal, R. and H. Abou-ElWafa, Self-medication in university students from the city of Mansoura, Egypt. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2017. 2017.

12. Abdi, A., et al., Prevalence of self-medication practice among health sciences students in Kermanshah, Iran. BMC pharmacology and Toxicology, 2018. 19(1):36.

13. Tuyishimire, J., et al., Assessment of self-medication practices with antibiotics among undergraduate university students in Rwanda. The Pan African Medical Journal, 2019. 33.

14. Karimy, M., et al., Risk factors associated with self-medication among women in Iran. BMC Public Health, 2019. 19(1):1033.

15. Niclós, G., T. Olivar, and V. Rodilla, Factors associated with self‐medication in Spain: a cross‐sectional study in different age groups. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 2018. 26(3):258-66.

16. Ortiz, M.V., et al., Self-medication, self-prescription and medicating “by proxy” in paediatrics. Anales de Pediatría (English Edition), 2017. 86(5): 264-9.

17. Wun, Y. T., et al. "Antibiotic use: do parents act differently for their children?." International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2012;66(12):1197-203.

18. Pileggi, Claudia, et al. "Over-the-counter drugs and complementary medications use among  children  in  Southern  Italy."  BioMed  Research International, 2015(2015).

19. Fernando, A., et al., A descriptive study of self-medication practices among Sri Lankan national level athletes. BMC Research Notes, 2017. 10(1):257.

20. Locquet, M., et al., Self-medication practice among amateur runners: Prevalence and associated factors. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 2016. 15(2):387-8.

21. Spellberg, B. and D.N. Gilbert, The future of antibiotics and resistance: a tribute to a career of leadership by John Bartlett. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2014. 59(suppl_2):S71-S75.

22. Bell, B.G., et al., A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of antibiotic consumption on antibiotic resistance. BMC Infectious Diseases, 2014;14(1):13.

23. Jamhour, A, et al. "Antibiotic knowledge and self-medication practices in a developing country: A cross-sectional study." American Journal of Infection Control, 2017; 45(4):384-8.

24. Esan, Deborah Tolulope, et al. "Assessment of self-medication practices and its associated factors among undergraduates of a private University in Nigeria." Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2018; 2018:5439079.

25. Lee, Chun-Hsien, et al. "Inappropriate self-medication among adolescents and its association with lower medication literacy and substance use." PloS one, 2017;12(12): e0189199.

26. Jamhour A,  El-Kheir A,  Salameh P,  Abi Hanna P,  Mansour H. "Antibiotic knowledge and self-medication practices in a developing country: A cross-sectional study." American Journal of Infection Control 45.4 (2017): 384-8.

27. Kaushal, Jyoti, et al. "Self-medication patterns and drug use behavior in housewives belonging to the middle income group in a city in northern India." Indian Journal of Community Medicine: Official Publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine, 2012;37(1):16.

28. Agbor, Michael A., and Clement C. Azodo. "Self medication for oral health problems in Cameroon." International Dental Journal, 2011;61(4):204-9.

29. Torres, N. F., et al. "Evidence of factors influencing self-medication with antibiotics in low and middle-income countries: a systematic scoping review." Public Health, 2019;168:92-101.

30. Chang, Jie, Qing Wang, and Yu Fang. "Socioeconomic differences in self-medication among middle-aged and older people: data from the China health and retirement longitudinal study." BMJ Open, 2017;7.12.

31. Ayalew, Mohammed Biset. "Self-medication practice in Ethiopia: a systematic review." Patient Preference and Adherence, 2017;11:401-13.

32. Mensah, Barbara Nyantakyiwah, et al. "Self-medication practice in Akuse, a rural setting in Ghana." Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal, 2019;26(3):189.

33. Noone, Joshua, and Christopher M. Blanchette. "The value of self-medication: summary of existing evidence." Journal of Medical Economics, 2018;21(2): 201-11.

34. Lei, Xiaosheng, et al. "Self-medication practice and associated factors among residents in Wuhan, China." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2018;15 (1):68.

35. Mortazavi, Seyede Salehe, et al. "Self-medication among the elderly in Iran: a content analysis study." BMC Geriatrics, 2017;17(1):198.

36. Tuyishimire, Jacques, et al. "Assessment of self-medication practices with antibiotics among undergraduate university students in Rwanda." The Pan African Medical Journal, 2019;19;33:307.

37. Limaye, Dnyanesh, et al. "A systematic review of the literature to assess self-medication practices." Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research, 2017;7:1-15.

38. Zhu, X., et al. "Self-medication practices with antibiotics among Chinese university students." Public Health, 2016;130:78-83.

39. Aziz, Muhammad Majid, et al. "Pattern of medication selling and self-medication practices: A study from Punjab, Pakistan." PloS one, 2018;13(3): e0194240

40. Jamhour, Antoun, et al. "Antibiotic knowledge and self-medication practices in a developing country: A cross-sectional study." American Journal of Infection Control, 2017;45 (4):384-8.

41. Pavydė, Eglė, et al. "Public knowledge, beliefs and behavior on antibiotic use and self-medication in Lithuania." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2015;12(6):7002-16.

42. Lv, Bing, et al. "Knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning self‐medication with antibiotics among university students in western China." Tropical Medicine & International Health, 2014;19(7):769-79.

43. Shah, Syed Jawad, et al. "Self-medication with antibiotics among non-medical university students of Karachi: a cross-sectional study." BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2014;15(1): 74.

44. Al Rasheed, Abdulrahman, et al. "Prevalence and predictors of self-medication with antibiotics in Al Wazarat health center, Riyadh City, KSA." BioMed Research International, 2016;2016:3916874.

45. Helal, R. M., and H. S. Abou-ElWafa. "Self-medication in university students from the city of Mansoura, Egypt." Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2017;2017:9145193.

46. Al Flaiti, Marwa, et al. "Evaluation of self-medication practices in acute diseases among university students in Oman." Journal of Acute Disease, 2014;3(3):249-52.