Prevalence, pattern, source of drug information, and reasons for self‐medication among dermatology patients

Abstract

Self-medication is common with dermatology patients. Yet, studies on this phenomenon are few. The pattern and reasons for self-medication are not clear. The objective of this study was to document the prevalence, pattern, source of drug information, and reasons for self-medication among dermatology patients. This was a prospective cross-sectional study of 468 adult dermatology patients over a 9-month period. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to all new patients to the dermatology outpatient clinic. The questionnaire had questions on sociodemographic data, self-medication, what specifically was used by the patients, source of information, and reasons for self-medication. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 22.0. Statistics such as means, medians, and frequencies. t test and chi-square test are presented. The mean age of the patients was 37.9 ± 16.3. The prevalence of self-medication was 63.7%. The pattern of self-medication was herbal only in 11.7%, western medication only in 45.6%, and western and herbal in 42.6%. Reason for self-medication was easy accessibility in 54%, difficulty seeing a doctor in 16.8%, and difficulty accessing medical care in 13.8%. Source of drug information was Pharmacist in 46.3% and friend in 26.5%. Self-medication was significant in males and in those with inflammatory diseases. Self-medication was common and this was due to ready accessibility of drugs and poor access to doctors. Self-medication was common in males and in those who have inflammatory diseases. The pattern of self-medication was dependent on age and the level of education. Source of information on drugs was pharmacists, friends, and family.

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“…Only 11.7% of patients selfmedicated with herbs alone, 45.6% with Western medicine alone and 42.6% with a combination of Western and herbal. 6 Self-medication was used mostly for inflammatory diseases. The kinds of herbal treatments used for self-medication and their impact on the diseases treated were not covered by the study.…”

“…The kinds of herbal treatments used for self-medication and their impact on the diseases treated were not covered by the study. 6 Easy accessibility to drugs was a reason for self-medicating in 54%, while difficulty in accessing a physician was a factor in 16.8% of self-medicators. The kind of the herbal treatments and their efficacy or perceived efficacy were not questions the authors set out to answer.…”

“…A study in our Special Edition showed the prevalence of self‐medication among dermatology patients ( n = 468) was 63.7% attending dermatology outpatient clinics at a tertiary center in Nigeria. Only 11.7% of patients self‐medicated with herbs alone, 45.6% with Western medicine alone and 42.6% with a combination of Western and herbal 6 . Self‐medication was used mostly for inflammatory diseases.…”

“…Self‐medication was used mostly for inflammatory diseases. The kinds of herbal treatments used for self‐medication and their impact on the diseases treated were not covered by the study 6 . Easy accessibility to drugs was a reason for self‐medicating in 54%, while difficulty in accessing a physician was a factor in 16.8% of self‐medicators.…”