Self-medication practices among health care professionals in a Private University, Malaysia

Authors

  • Abdul Nazer Ali Faculty of Pharmacy AIMST University 08100 Bedong Kedah Darul Aman
  • Jason Tiong Tiong Kion Kai Faculty of Pharmacy AIMST University 08100 Bedong Kedah Darul Aman
  • Choo Chun Keat Faculty of Pharmacy AIMST University 08100 Bedong Kedah Darul Aman
  • SA Dhanaraj Faculty of Pharmacy AIMST University 08100 Bedong Kedah Darul Aman

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v1i10.11846

Keywords:

Self-medication, health care professionals, University, prevalence

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and analyze the prevalence of self-medication practice among healthcare professionals in a private university, Malaysia. Prospective, quantitative, cross-sectional design which attempts to measure the self-medication practices among the teaching healthcare personnel through questionnaire survey form, self-developed and pre-validated consisting of open and closed-ended questions. Among respondents, 77.6% were practicing self medication. The reasons were, familiar with treatment options (23.5%) and mild illness (20%) and the highest practicing respondents were 30-39 years (76.3%). The reason among those who did not practice self- medication was risk of adverse reactions (31.6%). Self-medication practice was more prevalent among medical professionals (86.5%) followed by pharmacy and dentistry (70%). Headache (15.7%), cough and cold (15%) among illness and analgesics (13.1%) and antipyretic (12.7%) among drugs induced most respondents to practice self- medication. This study reveals very high prevalence of self-medication practice among healthcare professionals in the local private university. Exposure to drugs, knowledge of their illness and treatment choice remains main contribu- tors. The healthcare professionals must be encouraged to enter the patient role.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v1i10.11846

International Current Pharmaceutical Journal 2012, 1(10): 302-310

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
3112
PDF
2855

Downloads

Published

2012-09-05

How to Cite

Ali, A. N., Kai, J. T. T. K., Keat, C. C., & Dhanaraj, S. (2012). Self-medication practices among health care professionals in a Private University, Malaysia. International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, 1(10), 302–310. https://doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v1i10.11846

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 10 (2012)

Section

Original Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. The journal holds copyright and publishes the work under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).