| Autor: |
Tarciuc P; Doctoral School, 'George Emil Palade' University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Str., 540139 Targu Mures, Romania., Duduciuc A; Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, 012104 Bucharest, Romania., Chirila SI; Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University, 900527 Constanta, Romania., Herdea V; Doctoral School, 'George Emil Palade' University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Str., 540139 Targu Mures, Romania., Rosu O; Doctoral School, 'George Emil Palade' University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu Str., 540139 Targu Mures, Romania., Varga A; Department ME2-Clinical Disciplines, 'George Emil Palade' University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania.; Department of Internal Medicine II-Cardiology, Emergency Clinical County Hospital, 540042 Targu Mures, Romania., Ioniuc I; Faculty of Medicine, 'Grigore T. Popa' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Str., 700115 Iasi, Romania., Diaconescu S; Faculty of Medicine, 'Titu Maiorescu' University of Medicine, 67A Gheorghe Petrascu Str., 031593 Bucharest, Romania. |
| Abstrakt: |
Background and Objectives : Health professionals have voiced concerns about the danger of self-medication in times of growing use of over-the-counter medicines and, in some contexts, the unregulated selling of them. Previous research has examined the incidence of parental self-medication as well as the use and abuse of antibiotics without medical advice. However, these studies have limited evidence on the role of family doctors and the perceived severity of self-medication in the case of parents. Based on the Health Belief Model, our research tested the effects of exposure to medical information on the parents' attitudes toward self-treating their children, without medical advice. Specifically, we aimed to assess whether exposure to information warning about the risks of treating children without a medical prescription influences parents' attitudes toward administering medicines to their children without medical advice. Materials and Methods : 210 parents engaged in the study, and were divided into two groups. One group was exposed to educational materials related to the perils of self-medication and the second one was not. All participants answered the same questionnaire and the answers were compared between the two groups. Results : The results showed that our respondents evaluated the practices of self-medication negatively (a higher score indicates a more negative evaluation), especially when it came to treating their children without medical advice (3.91 ± 1.04 for unexposed and 3.98 ± 1.08 for exposed). However, their attitudes towards self-medication varied depending on their beliefs about administering certain medications. Both those exposed to the warning information and those who were not exposed have agreed that they are unable to avoid treatment of their ill child without medical advice. Conclusions : In general, our respondents evaluate negatively the practices of self-medication, especially the treatment of their children without medical advice. Therefore, future health education campaigns need to be targeted specifically, with messages that guide how to act in particular cases depending on the medication used and the child's condition. |
