Prevalence of over-the-counter drug abuse among adults in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives: Self-medication, also known as the use of over-the-counter drugs, can be defined as the economical choice of using treatments that have not been prescribed, recommended, or controlled by a certified healthcare professional, which can be found in pharmacies or convenience stores to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms. Previous studies on self-medication in Saudi Arabia are limited; thus, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of over-the-counter drug abuse among an adult population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, and a validated electronic self-administered questionnaire was administered to the general population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from June to August, 2020. Results: Overall, 400 participants were included in this study. The majority (94%) reported the use of over-the-counter drugs, of which 15.2% reported drug-related problems following over-the-counter drug use. The most frequently preferred over-the-counter drug group was analgesics/antipyretics (90.4%). More than three-quarters of our study participants stated that they read the instructions provided in the leaflet accompanying their medications carefully before use (76.3%). Conclusion:We found a highly significant prevalence of over-the-counter medication use, which exceeded 50%, without any significant association between over-the-counter use and other factors, except for the presence of chronic diseases. We recommend that, the Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should play a major role in monitoring the practice of self-medication by implementing policies and creating surveillance committees to that effect.

Trends in drug poisoning hospitalizations over ten years in South Korea: mortality and length of hospital stay

“…Particularly, the ease of access to over-the-counter medications, especially through convenience stores, has increased the cases of abuse that result in hospitalizations [24][25][26]. Further, reports indicate an increase in the misuse of over-the-counter drugs, particularly among the elderly [27,28]. These tendencies have become especially evident in the past decade, and measures are necessary to control them.…”

Utilization Pattern and Related Knowledge of Nasal Decongestants Among the General Population in Al-Qunfudah Governorate, Saudi Arabia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…Patients' understanding of their prescribed medications regarding their names, purpose, dosage schedule, potential side effects, and any special instructions associated with the medication is essential for lowering prescription mistakes, enhancing adherence, and raising patient satisfaction [4]. Research has demonstrated that insufficient health literacy leads to poor health outcomes, especially when it comes to misinterpreting prescription usage instructions [5,6].…”

Suspected inappropriate use of prescription and non-prescription drugs among requesting customers: A Saudi community pharmacists’ perspective

“…A recent Saudi study reported high prevalence of sedative misuse among university students ( Fadhel, 2022 ). A study conducted from a major city Saudi city (Jeddah) documented the prevalence of inappropriate and harmful OTC use among adults wherein they found that a high significant rate (exceeding 50%) of OTC medication use ( Safdar et al, 2021 ). Also, inappropriate use of medications was identified by another study in Saudi Arabia, where half of the study participants claimed that they knew someone who had misused medications ( Tobaiqy et al, 2019 ).…”