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Knowledge,
Attitudes, and Practices Toward
Self-Medicating Eye Symptoms in
Jazan Region
Bandar Abuageelah
1, Eman Hurissi 2, Afnan Hakami
3, Alshomokh Hakami 4,
Mona Alfaifi 1, Saleh Ghulaysi 5,
Alanoud Qadri 6, Aisha Majrashi
7, Afnan Siddiq 8, Mohammed Dibaji
9, Mona H. EL-Mahdy 10, Ahmed Hadi
11
1 Department of Medicine and Surgery,
Batterjee Medical College, Aseer,
Saudi Arabia
2 Department of Surgery, Ophthalmology
Division, Prince Mohammed Bin Naser
Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
3 Maternity & Pediatric Hospital
Bisha, Saudi Arabia.
4 Department of Medicine, Emergency
Division, General Jazan Hospital,
Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
5 Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University,
Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
6 Department of Pediatrics, General
Jazan Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
7 Department of Medicine, Emergency
Division, Ahad Al Musarihah General
Hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
8 Department of Medicine, Emergency
Division, General Abu Arish Hospital,
Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
9 Prince Mohammed Bin Naser Hospital,
Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
10 Professor Family and Community
Medicine Department Jazan University,
Professor in Community Medicine
Department, Benha University.
11 Department of General Surgery,
General Jazan Hospital, Jazan, Saudi
Arabia,
Corresponding author:
Mona Hussein Elmahdy
Professor Family and Community Medicine
Department Jazan University, Professor
in Community Medicine Department,
Benha University
Email: dr.monaelmahdy@yahoo.com,
mlmahdy@jazanu.edu.sa
Received: December 2023. Accepted:
December 2023; Published: January
1, 2024.Citation: Bandar Abuageelah
et al. Knowledge, Attitudes, and
Practices Toward Self-Medicating
Eye Symptoms in Jazan Region. World
Family Medicine. December 2024;
22(1): 21-30. DOI: 10.5742/MEWFM.2024.95257002
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Abstract
Background:
Self-medication with ophthalmic
medications is a common practice;
however, it raises concerns
about the safety and appropriateness
of treatment. Therefore, the
current study aims to evaluate
the knowledge, attitudes,
and approaches toward self-medicating
eye symptoms in the Jazan
region.
Methods:
An observational cross-sectional
study on the population comprises
all individuals (aged 18 and
up) who can read and write
who were now taking or had
previously used ophthalmic
medicines. Following IRB approval,
the questionnaire was distributed
on social media to evaluate
the aim of the study.
Results:
The majority of self-medicating
ophthalmic medication users
were male and aged between
18 and 29. 97.6% of self-medicators
admitted to the practice;
however, only 24.1% knew the
specific type of medication
they used. Lubricant eye drops
were the most used medication.
Eye dryness and redness were
the most common symptoms leading
to self-medication, with repeated
symptoms and the perception
of a simple condition being
the most common reasons.
Conclusion:
Self-medication with ophthalmic
medications is widespread
in the studied population;
nevertheless, there needs
to be more knowledge about
the specific medications used.
Symptoms such as eye dryness
and redness are common reasons
for self-medication, driven
by the perception of simplicity
and repeated occurrence.
Keywords:
Self-medication; Eye symptoms;
Blurred vision; Eye redness;
Eye pain ; Jazan
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