Self-medication for Oral and Non-oral Conditions among Visitors of Outpatient Clinics- Alexandria- Egypt
Published: 2019-01-24
Page: 22-29
Issue: 2018 - Volume 1 [Issue 1]
Mohannad Naser
Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Maha El Tantawi *
Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To assess the prevalence of self-medication for non-oral and oral conditions and associated factors.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration: The outpatient clinics of Alexandria University teaching hospital, Alexandria, Egypt in 2015.
Methodology: Visitors responded to a pilot-tested Arabic questionnaire that collected information about medical and dental histories, self-medication and its reasons. The study outcomes were the most frequent non-oral and oral conditions for which antibiotics self-medication was used. Regression analysis was used to assess the association with independent variables and the relationship between the two outcomes.
Results: The response rate was 94.3%. The prevalence of antibiotics self-medication for non-oral and oral conditions was 31.6% and 19.4%. The most frequent non-oral and oral conditions where antibiotics self-medication occurred were common cold and toothache (26.3% and 18.2%). Perceiving the condition as non-serious and leftover medications were associated with higher odds of antibiotics self-medication for common cold and toothache (OR= 1.99, 1.99 and 2.84, 1.81). Antibiotics self-medications for the two conditions were strongly associated (OR= 52.00).
Conclusions: Self-medications for oral and non-oral conditions are associated and related to modifiable factors including how serious the patients perceive their condition to be and if they have access to left-over medication.
Keywords: Anti-bacterial agents, common cold, dental, self-medication, toothache