Self‐medication among children and adolescents in Germany: results of the National Health Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)

Abstract

AIMS Despite the widespread use of self-medication among the child population and the potential harm it can do, up-to-date epidemiological data on self-medication are sparse worldwide. The aim was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of self-medication use among non-institutionalized children in Germany, focusing on the paediatric self-medications that are most frequently used.

Medication use in European primary care patients with lower respiratory tract infection: an observational study

“…Available data on the frequency and types of self-medication used in the general population of European countries (Germany and Spain) show that drugs acting on the respiratory system, especially cough and cold medications, constitute a major part of all self-medication used. 18,20 With regard to variables associated with self-medication, the findings in this study are mainly consistent with previous studies on self-medication in general. [17][18][19][21][22][23][24] More frequent self-medication among females in the present study confirms previous studies and governmental reports that consistently show that females in general use more healthcare services.…”

Self-medication practices and misuse of medicine among mothers of young children attending a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) defines self-medication as "use of pharmaceutical or medicinal products by the consumer to treat self-recognized disorders or symptoms, the intermittent or continued use of a medication previously prescribed by a physician for chronic or recurring disease or symptom, or the use of medication recommended by lay sources or health workers not entitled to prescribe medicine" 2 . Self-medication may also cause masking of symptoms and may probably cause side effects 1 …”

“…Despite the widespread use of self-medication among children and its potential harm, up-to-date epidemiological data on self-medication are sparse worldwide 1 . The term self-medication can be defined as patients consuming nonprescription medicines, usually over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, to treat certain 'minor' ailments themselves without consulting a medical practitioner and without any medical supervision 1 .…”

“…The term self-medication can be defined as patients consuming nonprescription medicines, usually over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, to treat certain 'minor' ailments themselves without consulting a medical practitioner and without any medical supervision 1 . The World Health Organization (WHO) defines self-medication as "use of pharmaceutical or medicinal products by the consumer to treat self-recognized disorders or symptoms, the intermittent or continued use of a medication previously prescribed by a physician for chronic or recurring disease or symptom, or the use of medication recommended by lay sources or health workers not entitled to prescribe medicine" 2 .…”

Development and validation of novel self-report questionnaire about the assessment of adolescents’ relation to medicines use and risk

“…Poor knowledge can lead to the improper use of commonly used medicines and adverse drug reactions (Thanoon et al 2013, Eldalo et al, 2014). There has so far been published only a few works that analysed the questionnaire survey of adolescents' knowledge about drugs and their perceptions of the risk of pharmacotherapy (Siponen et al, 2014, Du et al, 2009). There is no information about adolescents' knowledge, attitude and practice of medicines in the Slovak Republic, which led us to develop and validate an assessment questionnaire called Knowledge of medicines and perception of risk questionnaire (KPQ).…”