PREVALENCE AND INFLUENCING FACTORS OF SELF-MEDICATION WITH ANALGESICS AMONG ADULTS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Analgesics has been used to relieve pain since the discovery of pain killers and humankind is searching ways to alleviate pain. Self-medication practice (SMP) is common among the society. Irrational SMP could be prevented by pharmacist interventions. This study aims to evaluate the self-medication behaviours and related factors of analgesics use. Online questionnaire was disseminated between February-July 2020 in this observational study. The survey was structured into 2 sections demographics (11 items) and analgesic use behaviour (14 items). A binary logistic regression model has been conducted for the evaluation of the related factors for self-medication practice. The mean age of 376 individuals was 32.5 +/- 13.8. AMajority of the participants (89.6%) indicated that they used analgesics without a prescription. Most common reasons for painkiller use were head ache (46.3%), stomachAacheA(13.8%), tooth ache (6.4%) and menstrual pain (5.8%). Out of 18 predictors, six were found statistically significant. The influencing factors for SMP were being employed (OR: 2.968; 95% CI:1.073-8.125; p = 0.036), lack of health insurance (OR: 4.312; 95% CI: 1.034- 17.975; p = 0.045), recommending analgesic to others (OR: 3.446; 95% CI: 1.41- 8.40; p = 0.006). This study highlighted the high rate of SMP and related factors.