Self medication practices and its determinants in health care professionals during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic: cross-sectional study

Okoye, Ogochukwu Chinedum; Adejumo, Oluseyi Ademola; Opadeyi, Abimbola O.; Madubuko, C.R.; Ntaji, Maureen; Okonkwo, Kenechukwu Chukwuemeka; Edeki, I R; Agboje, Uchechukwu Oby; Alli, Oladimeji Emmanuel; Ohaju-Obodo, John Oghenevwirhe

doi:10.1007/s11096-021-01374-4

Cited by 15 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…A total of 15,154 participants were pulled together from 14 studies [ 6 , 11 , 12 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Study characteristics are shown in Table 2 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nine studies described factors that were statistically correlated with self-medication. These include age, gender, education, occupation, knowledge, distrust in health personnel or institutions, fear of being sanctioned or fined for leaving the home, and individual experience [ 6 , 18 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ] There was no consensus about age as a correlate of self-medication. A study observed that younger age is positively associated with self-medication for preventing COVID-19 [ 20 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Medication Practices for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

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It has been suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in self-medication practices across the world. Yet, there is no up-to-date synthesized evidence on the prevalence of self-medication that is attributable to the pandemic. This study aimed to conduct a systematic literature review on the prevalence and correlates of self-medication for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 globally. The review was registered with the PROSPERO database. Searches were conducted following PRISMA guidelines, and relevant articles published between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2022 were included. Pooled prevalence rate was conducted using the Meta package in R. A total of 14 studies from 14 countries, which represented 15,154 participants, were included. The prevalence of COVID-19-related self-medication ranged from 3.4–96%. The pooled prevalence of self-medication for this purpose was 44.9% (95% CI: 23.8%, 68.1%). Medications reported by studies for self-medication were antibiotics (79%), vitamins (64%), antimalarials (50%), herbal and natural products (50%), analgesics and antipyretics (43%), minerals and supplements (43%), cold and allergy preparations (29%), corticosteroids (14%), and antivirals (7%). The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics is concerning. More public health education about responsible self-medication amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics is required to mitigate the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance.

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“…A total of 15,154 participants were pulled together from 14 studies [ 6 , 11 , 12 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Study characteristics are shown in Table 2 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Medication Practices for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

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“…Measures related to self-medication were obtained from previous studies (2), (20) as well as by asking questions as follows: “What was your Action after identifying the symptoms of COVID-19 ?” (Waiting for cure/ Consulting with doctor/ Self-medication), “Do you have health care professionals in family members ?” (yes/no), “Do you have the Previous history of self-medication ?” (yes/no), “Do you think self-medication is harmful?” (yes/no), “Prescription of medication given by? “ (Myself/Physician/Specialist), “Knowledge on self-medication?…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Measures related to self-medication were obtained from previous studies ( 2), (20) as well as by asking questions as follows: "What was your Action after identifying the symptoms of COVID-19?" (Waiting for cure/ Consulting with doctor/ Self-medication), "Do you have health care professionals in family members?"…”

Section: Self-medication Related Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-medication practices and associated factors among COVID-19 recovered patients to prevent future infections: A web-based survey in Bangladesh

Sujan

Haghighathoseini

Tasnim

et al. 2022

Preprint

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BackgroundHuman health is largely affected by self-medication in both ways, adversely and favorably, as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fear of spreading COVID-19 among health workers and hospital environments has led many Bangladeshi people to practice self-medicate for as a preventive strategy against this disease. Consequently, this practice entails an improper and injudicious use of medicine to cure self-recognized symptoms. To date, the COVID-19 has no effective treatment. The lack of a cure for COVID-19 and the continual progression of the diseases in educational settings induce a substantial population to practice self-medication. Therefore a study of self-medication practices is necessary for the framework of the pandemic. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication to prevent or manage future COVID-19 infections among recovered COVID-19 patients.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2020 to February 2021 using an e-survey along with 360 participants. Data were collected using a pre-tested self-reported questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and correlations analysis were performed in the study.ResultsAmong 360 participants, males were 69.7%, and females 30.3%. The prevalence of self-medication is 11%, and monthly family income, residence, education, occupation, and previous history of SM are the associated factors. Among the participants, 29.7% use antibiotics, and 30% use herbal products or drugs as medication.ConclusionThe present study found SMP is moderately prevalent among COVID-19 recovered patients. To minimize the rate of SMP, adequate health care access systems and public education should be introduced, and media & community should be engaged in rational use of medication.

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“… 19 Several other questionnaire-based studies have similar results when considering the most frequently used drugs for self-medication in COVID-19; these being analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics (azithromycin), ivermectin, chloroquine, and vitamins. 20 – 22…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug safety of frequently used drugs and substances for self-medication in COVID-19

Baracaldo-Santamaría

Pabón-Londoño

Rojas-Rodriguez

2022

Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the behavior of self-medication has increased. The dissemination of misleading information regarding the efficacy of certain drugs or substances for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 has been the major contributing factor for this phenomenon. Alongside with the increase in self-medication behavior, the inherent risks to this act such as drug–drug interactions, adverse events, drug toxicity, and masking of symptoms have also increased. Self-medication in the context of COVID-19 has led to drug misuse leading in some cases to the development of fatal adverse drug reactions. It is important that during this ongoing pandemic drugs with potential clinical efficacy against COVID-19 are adequately analyzed regarding their efficacy, safety, and monitoring. The aim of this review is to describe the available evidence regarding the efficacy, safety, and monitoring of the drugs and substances that have been shown to be frequently used for self-medication in patients with COVID-19 (hydroxychloroquine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ivermectin, azithromycin, vitamins, aspirin, and chlorine dioxide) to adequately characterize their risks, safe use, monitoring strategies, and to reinforce the concept that these substances should not be used for self-medication and require a medical prescription. Plain Language Summary Drug safety of frequently used drugs and substances for self-medication in COVID-19 Dissemination of information about potential COVID-19 treatments has led individuals to self-medicate and expose themselves to risks such as drug–drug interactions, side effects, antibiotic resistance, and misdiagnosis. There is a need to review the medical literature to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drugs and substances commonly used by the population for the treatment and prevention of SARS CoV-2 infection. In this review, we included drugs that are frequently used for self-medication and commonly advertised such as ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, chlorine dioxide, azithromycin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, among others. A brief introduction of the drug and its mechanism of action, followed by a summary of the efficacy in COVID-19 and safety, will be described for each drug in order to promote their responsible use.

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Self medication practices and its determinants in health care professionals during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic: cross-sectional study

Cited by 15 publications

References 30 publications

Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Medication Practices for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review

Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Medication Practices for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review

Self-medication practices and associated factors among COVID-19 recovered patients to prevent future infections: A web-based survey in Bangladesh

Drug safety of frequently used drugs and substances for self-medication in COVID-19

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