“…This study’s questionnaire was developed and modified according to those presented by previous studies [ 33 , 55 , 56 ]. Its content validity was assessed by a diverse expert panel comprising two family medicine physicians; seven pharmacists (three community pharmacists, three hospital pharmacists, and one policy developers); four public health educators; and two school teachers.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The World Health Organization found that SM in individuals with lower medication knowledge may result in several potential risks, including incorrect self-diagnosis, delays in seeking medical advice, use of inadequate or excessive dosages, prolonged drug-use duration, drug interactions, lack of awareness of warnings and precautions, storage in incorrect conditions or beyond the recommended shelf-life, polypharmacy, and drug abuse [ 2 ]. For example, analgesics are a common nonprescription medicine, but most patients lack knowledge of analgesic use, which is related to inappropriate use of analgesics and excessive doses of acetaminophen [ 31 – 33 ].…”
BackgroundWhile self-medication is common, inappropriate self-medication has potential risks. This study assesses inappropriate self-medication among adolescents and examines the relationships among medication literacy, substance use, and inappropriate self-medication.MethodIn 2016, a national representative sample of 6,226 students from 99 primary, middle, and high schools completed an online self-administered questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors related to inappropriate self-medication.ResultsThe prevalence of self-medication in the past year among the adolescents surveyed was 45.8%, and the most frequently reported drugs for self-medication included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relievers (prevalence = 31.1%), cold or cough medicines (prevalence = 21.6%), analgesics (prevalence = 19.3%), and antacids (prevalence = 17.3%). Of the participants who practiced self-medication, the prevalence of inappropriate self-medication behaviors included not reading drug labels or instructions (10.1%), using excessive dosages (21.6%), and using prescription and nonprescription medicine simultaneously without advice from a health provider (polypharmacy) (30.3%). The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that after controlling for school level, gender, and chronic diseases, the participants with lower medication knowledge, lower self-efficacy, lower medication literacy, and who consumed tobacco or alcohol were more likely to engage in inappropriate self-medication.ConclusionLower medication literacy and substance use were associated with inappropriate self-medication among adolescents.
“…This study’s questionnaire was developed and modified according to those presented by previous studies [ 33 , 55 , 56 ]. Its content validity was assessed by a diverse expert panel comprising two family medicine physicians; seven pharmacists (three community pharmacists, three hospital pharmacists, and one policy developers); four public health educators; and two school teachers.…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The World Health Organization found that SM in individuals with lower medication knowledge may result in several potential risks, including incorrect self-diagnosis, delays in seeking medical advice, use of inadequate or excessive dosages, prolonged drug-use duration, drug interactions, lack of awareness of warnings and precautions, storage in incorrect conditions or beyond the recommended shelf-life, polypharmacy, and drug abuse [ 2 ]. For example, analgesics are a common nonprescription medicine, but most patients lack knowledge of analgesic use, which is related to inappropriate use of analgesics and excessive doses of acetaminophen [ 31 – 33 ].…”
BackgroundWhile self-medication is common, inappropriate self-medication has potential risks. This study assesses inappropriate self-medication among adolescents and examines the relationships among medication literacy, substance use, and inappropriate self-medication.MethodIn 2016, a national representative sample of 6,226 students from 99 primary, middle, and high schools completed an online self-administered questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors related to inappropriate self-medication.ResultsThe prevalence of self-medication in the past year among the adolescents surveyed was 45.8%, and the most frequently reported drugs for self-medication included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relievers (prevalence = 31.1%), cold or cough medicines (prevalence = 21.6%), analgesics (prevalence = 19.3%), and antacids (prevalence = 17.3%). Of the participants who practiced self-medication, the prevalence of inappropriate self-medication behaviors included not reading drug labels or instructions (10.1%), using excessive dosages (21.6%), and using prescription and nonprescription medicine simultaneously without advice from a health provider (polypharmacy) (30.3%). The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that after controlling for school level, gender, and chronic diseases, the participants with lower medication knowledge, lower self-efficacy, lower medication literacy, and who consumed tobacco or alcohol were more likely to engage in inappropriate self-medication.ConclusionLower medication literacy and substance use were associated with inappropriate self-medication among adolescents.
“…In this study, MedLitRxSE proved to be an effective and easy-to-use tool to assess the literacy of patients, and thus play an important role in ensuring patient safety and adherence to the instructions on how to use medicines provided by community pharmacies. Knowledge and improvement of ML could help reduce non-adherence to treatments, enabling patients to participate mor fully in their medication therapy (27).…”
Background: Aging implies a higher prevalence of chronic pathologies and a corresponding increase in medication. The correct adherence and use of the medication are prerequisites for reducing risks of disease progression, comorbidity, and mortality. Medication literacy (ML) is the specific ability to safely access and understand the information available concerning medication, and to act accordingly. Currently, there are few specific instruments that ascertain the extent of ML in the general population. The aim of this work was to analyse ML in a large cohort of pharmacy customers. Methods: A total of 400 community pharmacy clients were analyzed to assess the level of ML (documental and numeracy) through the validated MedLitRxSE tool. Results: The results showed that out of a total of 400 community pharmacy clients only 136 (34%) had an adequate degree of ML, while the rest of the clients (n=264; 66%) were adjudged not to have this ability. Women were more likely to have an inadequate degree of ML (70.1% vs, 58.1% of men). The groups between 51-65 and ˃65 years showed a low level of ML (23.5% and 7.1%, respectively) compared with the rest of the age groups. The education level was also analyzed and a statistically significant increase in ML was observed as the clients’ academic level increased (P <0.001). Conclusions: An inadequate ML level was found in community pharmacy clients over the age of 51, and also in those with primary or non-formal studies. Our data add to our knowledge about ML, and should pharmacists and other health professionals to adopt new strategies to prevent, or at least reduce, errors in taking medicines, thus avoiding the undesirable effects of any misuse.
“…Knowledge and improvement of ML could help reduce non-adherence to chronic treatments, giving power to patients and enabling them to participate in their medication therapy, helping to reduce non-adherence to chronic treatments [24].…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The chronic diseases present in these patients were metabolic syndrome (32.9%), hypertension (30.1%), hyperlipemia (16.1%), depression (12.5%) and diabetes (8.4%). Finally, with respect to the reading of medicine leaflets, it was observed that 47% stated to read them, while 24.8% never and sometimes 28.2% of respondents (X 2 =0.0001).…”
Background: Long-term therapy with chronic maintenance medication is essential for reducing risks of disease progression, comorbidity, and mortality. A correct adherence and use of the medication are prerequisite for reducing these risks. Medication literacy (ML) is the specific ability to safely access and understand the information available concerning medication, and act accordingly.Methods: To investigate the ML in a community pharmacy of older users in order to study the factors that are associated with inadequate literacy. A total of 400 patients were analyzed to assess the level of ML (document and numeracy) through the MedLitRxSE tool.Results: Our study showed that 66% had an inadequate-ML. Women were a high frequency of inadequate-ML respect to men (70.1% and 29.9%). Users over 65 years with chronic diseases showed a high frequency of inadequate-ML (76.5%) in both sexes (P<0.001).Conclusions: Older users, those with primary or any studies as well as patients taking many medicines for chronic diseases showed a significantly lower level of ML. Health professionals and managers should adopt new strategies that allow to prevent and reduce the errors in the handling of the medicines and avoiding the undesirable effects of a misuse in older patients.
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