Self-Medication Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among the Adult Population in the Eastern Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Autor:	Almaqhawi A; Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Alhamad M; Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Albaqshi B; Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Alquraini M; Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Altaha M; Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Alhussain H; Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Alfayez R; Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU., Ibrahim Ali S; Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, SAU.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Cureus [Cureus] 2023 Jun 16; Vol. 15 (6), pp. e40505. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Jun 16 (Print Publication: 2023).
DOI:	10.7759/cureus.40505
Abstrakt:	Background: Self-medication is vital to public health because it has an impact on people's health and the current healthcare system, both positively and negatively. During public health catastrophes like the COVID-19 disease, this is particularly true. Aim: This study aimed to examine the behavioral response of the community with regard to self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic in the eastern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: During the COVID-19 outbreak from March to September 2020, a cross-sectional online survey of 398 participants using structured questionnaires was conducted to observe knowledge, prevalence, patterns, and sources of self-medication among the respondents in the eastern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Results: The percentage of respondents who had heard about self-medication was 50.5%, and those who practiced self-medication during COVID-19 were 43.7% of the respondents. Regarding knowledge, 60.3% had a low overall knowledge level versus 39.7% who had a high knowledge level. Most of those who practiced self-medication took medication based on their own decision (34.4%). The most frequently used drugs during the outbreak were analgesics (43.5%) and vitamins (24.9%). Only 1% of participants reported using anti-malaria drugs (hydroxychloroquine). The most common reasons for self-medication practices were having a mild illness (30.4%), followed by fear of infection (26.6%). The symptoms for which the respondents took self-medication were headache (29.6%), cough (26.6%), and fever (24.6%). Conclusion: Our investigation showed a low level of knowledge about self-medication and a considerable level of self-medication practices. Therefore, self-medication may be minimized with ongoing awareness-raising and sensitization. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. (Copyright © 2023, Almaqhawi et al.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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