Educating the general public on the risks of self-medication

Abstract

The relevance and impact of self-medication in the primary healthcare system is an area that receives focus as a means to empower patients and increase efficiency in the healthcare ecosystem. The aims were to determine the prevalence and the risk associated with self- medication practices from the perspectives of customers, medical practitioners and pharmacists. Two questionnaires regarding the risks of self-medication, one intended for the general public and one for healthcare professionals, were developed and validated. Questionnaires were disseminated through social media and by hand through a community pharmacy. Data analysis was carried out. An information sheet to raise awareness on the risks of self-medication is developed, validated and disseminated to the general public. The general public’s questionnaire was answered by two hundred sixty-one participants of which 71% (n=184) were female and 77% (n=201) admitted to self-medicating with the main reason being that the illness was minor (62%, n=163). The most popular type of medication used for self-medication was cough syrups (63%, n=165) whilst the main risk associated with self-medication was the incorrect choice of treatment (54%, n=140). The correlations between level of education and patients knowing the meaning of self-medication (p=0.039) and patient’s level of education and whether or not they self-medicate (p=0.022) were statistically significant. The healthcare professional’s (HCP) questionnaire was answered by sixty-six participants of which 58% were female (n=38) and 64% were doctors (n=42). The main reason HCP believed patients self-medicate was due to the waiting times at healthcare facilities (73%, n=48) whilst menstrual pain and cough and common cold were the main medical issues HCP think patients opt to self-medicate for (74%, n=49). The general public is self-medicating, with the main reason being that the illness was minor. Healthcare professionals reported that access to medical facilities may be a driving factor for self-medication. Self-medication challenges may be lessened by educational initiatives aimed at both healthcare professionals and community members, as well as increased access to high-quality public healthcare, enforcement of laws governing the use of prescription medications, and decreasing the burden of infectious diseases. Further studies could be undertaken to assess risks associated with self-medication in terms of misuse of medication or delay in seeking medical advice.