| Research Article: | Self-Medication with Over-the-counter Medicines Among the Working Age Population in Metropolitan Areas of Thailand |
| Author: | Sineenart Chautrakarn, Waraporn Khumros and Phanupong Phutrakool |
| Email: | waraporn.kho@siam.edu |
| Department/Faculty | Faculty of Nursing, Siam University, Bangkok 10160 |
| Published/แหล่งเผยแพร่ | Frontiers in Pharmacology August 2021 | Volume 12 | Article 726643 |
Citation
Chautrakarn S., Khumros W. and Phutrakool P. (2021). Self-Medication with over-the-counter medicines among the working age population in Metropolitan Areas of Thailand. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 1-9.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Self-medication with over-the-counter (OTC) medicines is becoming an increasingly popular practice around the world. The global prevalence rate of self-medication ranges from 11.2% to 93.7%, depending on the target population and country. However, there is a lack of data on the prevalence and practices of self-medication among the working-age population, particularly in Thailand metropolitan areas. The current study describes the prevalence of self-medication practices, adverse drug reactions and severity, reasons for self-medication, and basic medication knowledge among people of working age in metropolitan areas in Thailand.
Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional study between December 2020 and January 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze self-medication data. A chi-square test was used to assess the association between self-medication and sociodemographic characteristics.
Results: This study found high prevalence of self-medication among the working-age population in metropolitan areas of Thailand (88.2%). The most commonly used drug groups were NSAIDs (34.8%) and antibiotics (30.2%). Minor illness and easy access to pharmacies were the most common reasons for self-medication. Almost half of the participants' illnesses (42.6%) for which they self-medicated were not always completely cured, necessitating treatment at a hospital or clinic. Although only a small number of participants (ranged from 0.6 to 6.6%) experienced adverse drug reactions as a result of self-medication, some had severe symptoms that disrupted their daily lives or required hospitalization. In terms of basic medication knowledge, we discovered that study participants misunderstood some antibiotic drug concepts.
Conclusions: According to the study findings, it is recommended that more information about the risks of self-medication, drug adverse reactions, antibiotic stewardship, more supervision of the prohibition of over-the-counter drugs and selling practices, and adequate facilities for peoples access to medical services be provided at the policy level.
Keywords: self-medication, antibiotics stewardship, metropolitan, thailand, working age population, over-the-counter medicines
Self-Medication with Over-the-counter Medicines Among the Working Age Population in Metropolitan Areas of Thailand
Faculty of Nursing, Siam University, Bangkok, Thailand