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Prevalence
and Determinants of Self-medication
among Attendants of Primary Health
Care Centers in Abha City, Saudi
Arabia
Ali MH Alshehri1,
; Hassan MH AlShehri2,; Amer MH
Alshehri 3, Salem MH Alshehri 4;
Saeed Doos S. Almontashri 5; Saad
Abdullah Algarni 1, Dafer Abdullah
Alshehri 6
Khalid Hassan Alasmri 7
1) SBFM, Family Medicine Consultant,
Medical Consultation Center, Abha
City, Ministry of Health, Saudi
Arabia
2) SBFM, Family Medicine Consultant,
National Guard Hospital, Riyadh
City, Saudi Arabia
3) SBFM, Family Medicine Consultant,
Muhayel Primary Healthcare Center,
Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia
4) BDS, Primary Healthcare Center,
General Health Directorate, Bisha
City, Saudi Arabia
5) Family Medicine Consultant, Health
Programs Administration, Ministry
of Health, Saudi Arabia
6) MBBS, General Practitioner, Abha
Health Sector, Ministry of Health,
Saudi Arabia
7) Pharma D, Intern, College of
Pharmacy, King Khalid University,
Abha, City, Saudi Arabia
Corresponding Author
Dr. Ali MH Alshehri
Email:
Proph.ali@hotmail.com
Received: November 2023. Accepted:
November 2023; Published: December
1, 2023.Citation: Ali MH Alshehri
et al. Prevalence and Determinants
of Self-medication among Attendants
of Primary Health Care Centers in
Abha City, Saudi Arabia. World Family
Medicine. December 2023; 21(11):
16-25. DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2023.95256225
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Abstract
Objectives:
To determine the prevalence
and determinants of self-medication
practices among attendants
of primary healthcare centers
(PHCCs) in Abha City, Saudi
Arabia.
Methods:
The researchers interviewed
400 patients attending Al-Numees
PHCC. A data collection sheet
was constructed for data collection,
which comprised participants’
personal features and self-medication
practices.
Results:
About one-third of participants
practiced self-medication
during the last year, mostly
1-3 times (22.5%). The main
motive toward self-medication
was a previous positive personal
experience with the medication
(31.4%), while the main complaint
was having minor ailments
(41.5%). Analgesics were mainly
sought (47.9%), with pharmacists
being the main advice providers
(50.2%). The condition of
70.7% improved after self-medication.
Self-medication was significantly
more practiced by older participants
(p=0.028), males (p=0.016),
Saudis (p=0.001), and both
illiterate and university-educated
participants than others (p=0.018).
It was also significantly
influenced by participants’
occupation, being highest
among retired participants
(100%).
Conclusions:
Self-medication is commonly
practiced in Abha City, mainly
due to having prior experience.
It is mainly practiced when
having a minor ailment. Analgesics
are the most frequently purchased
drugs for self-medication.
Pharmacists are the main source
of advice for self-medication.
Determinants of more practice
of self-medication include
older age, male gender, Saudi
nationality, and educational
level.
Key
Words: Self-medication;
prevalence; primary health
care.
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