Self-medication among primary care patients in Farazdak Clinic in Riyadh

Four hundred and thirty new adult patients were interviewed using a questionnaire for their attitudes and practices regarding self-medication. 69% of the patients were males and 40% were Saudis. 58% of the patients attempted self-medication due to the triviality of their symptoms or to save time and money. They used mostly analgesics, vitamins, tonics and oral antibiotics. 41.6% of the patients did not practise self-medication because of lack of information about the drugs or for fear of complications. Self-medication was associated with literacy and morbidity. Literate patients self-medicated significantly more than illiterates. Patients who perceived their symptoms as minor self-medicated significantly more than those who perceived them as major. No association was found between self-medication and age, sex or occupation.     

Drug use and health-seeking behavior for childhood illness in Vietnam--a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES: To describe and understand health-seeking behavior and drug use among caregivers, in particular antibiotics, for childhood illnesses in Vietnam. METHODS: A total of six focus group discussions were conducted with child care providers. A thematised interview guide was used and qualitative content analysis was applied. Meaning units in the texts dealing with the same content material were identified, condensed and compared until several emerging themes were found. Finally, similarities and differences in the views between rural and urban groups were described. RESULTS: Self-treatment and self-medication were prominent in the urban groups, whereas compliance and trust in doctors were more common among the rural participants. Misuse and misconceptions regarding the properties of drugs were reported leading to worries about irrational drug use in the community. Despite the widespread use of private services in both areas, the public health service was reported to be the most trusted recourse for serious cases. CONCLUSIONS: Qualitatively different ways of using drug and health care services are reported for childhood sickness in rural and urban Vietnam. These results provide rich information for the development of quantitative studies on drug use for children and point to the need to involve all health facilities in consideration.     

Status of self medication in West Germany

The position of self-medication in the health care system of the Federal Republic of Germany has become more important during the last years. The possibility of self-treatment of minor illnesses is accepted by the majority of the consumers. Associations concerned and the legislature are in favour of self-medication particularly in view of political principles and health economical reasons within a limit which does not endanger the security of medication. At present self-medication medicines amount to 18 per cent of the sale of medicines in pharmacies. There has been a lot of discussion lately on the distinction between prescribed and non-prescribed medicines as well as on the risks of pharmaceuticals available for self-service. But the principle of self-medication itself is not in doubt.     

Self-medication and non-doctor prescription practices in Pokhara valley, Western Nepal: a questionnaire-based study

Background

Self-medication and non-doctor prescribing of drugs is common in developing countries. Complementary and alternative medications, especially herbs, are also commonly used. There are few studies on the use of these medications in Pokhara Valley, Western Nepal.

Methods

Previously briefed seventh semester medical students, using a semi-structured questionnaire, carried out the study on 142 respondents. Demographic information and information on drugs used for self-medication or prescribed by a non-allopathic doctor were collected.

Results

Seventy-six respondents (54%) were aged between 20 to 39 years. The majority of the respondents (72 %) stayed within 30 minutes walking distance of a health post/medical store. 59% of these respondents had taken some form of self-medication in the 6-month period preceding the study. The common reasons given for self-medication were mild illness, previous experience of treating a similar illness, and non-availability of health personnel. 70% of respondents were prescribed allopathic drugs by a non-allopathic doctor. The compounder and health assistant were common sources of medicines. Paracetamol and antimicrobials were the drugs most commonly prescribed. A significantly higher proportion of young (<40 years) male respondents had used self-medication than other groups.

Conclusions

Self-medication and non-doctor prescribing are common in the Pokhara valley. In addition to allopathic drugs, herbal remedies were also commonly used for self-medication. Drugs, especially antimicrobials, were not taken for the proper duration. Education to help patients decide on the appropriateness of self-medication is required.     

Drug consumption patterns in 2 villages of Bahia (Brazil)

A study among families in two villages in rural Bahia, Brazil, reveals that presently pharmaceutical products, are being used in self-medication on a large scale. Traditional remedies appear to have a limited place only. People's attitude towards modern medicines proved to be highly positive. However, when biomedicaly evaluated, the use of the pharmaceutical products has to be considered irrational. Complicating factors are: 1) a preference for the application of pharmaceutical products in infants, 2) the high financial burden to which the population is subject resulting from drug acquisition and 3) the exaggerated expectation with regard to antibiotics, analgesics and vitamin preparations. It is recommended did to do more research into local conditions of drugs use, resulting in creative solutions for irrational drug-use. Self medication could become an important instrument in "Primary Health Care", provided that people have more information. Public Health could play a keyrole in this research and the consequent educational programmes.