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Over-the-Counter Medication Use among Parents in Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Ola A. Mirdad

    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ghada E. Esheba

    (Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia
    Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31111, Egypt)

  • Ahmed H. Mousa

    (College of Medicine and Surgery, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia)

  • Houriah Y. Nukaly

    (College of Medicine and Surgery, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia)

  • Yosra Z. Alhindi

    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia)

  • Nahla H. Hariri

    (Department of Community Medicine and Health Care for Pilgrims, Faculty of Medicine, Umm AlQura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia)

  • Nahla Ayoub

    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia)

  • Safaa M. Alsanosi

    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24375, Saudi Arabia
    Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK)

Abstract

Introduction: Self-medication is a growing public health concern worldwide. Studies have shown a gap between best practice and the current practice of using over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Despite being a well-recognised problem in Saudi Arabia, few studies have investigated OTC medication use in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the attitudes and knowledge of parents regarding OTC medication use in the Jeddah region, Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out via an electronic questionnaire sent randomly to parents over four months, from 1 January to 30 April 2022. The participants’ characteristics and categorical variables were represented descriptively by frequency and percentage. A Chi-square test was used to test the relationship between the variables. Results: In total, 211 questionnaires were included in this study. Females represented 54.5% of the participants included in the study. Parents belonging to the 18-to-30-year-old group comprised the highest percentage (37.9%), and most of the parents (72.9%) had received an undergraduate education. Family physicians were the most common source (37.3%) of information about OTC medications, whereas more than half of parents purchased OTC medications from the community pharmacy (58.8%). While almost half of the parents (52.1%) visited a family physician when side effects of OTC medications appeared in their children, only (33.6%) stopped giving their children the OTC medicine. The relationship between the sociodemographic characteristics (including educational level, marital status, and employment status) and OTC drug consumption was significant ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: Educational campaigns are needed to guide patients about the proper use of OTC medications. Studies on OTC medication use are lacking in Saudi Arabia in terms of its frequency, reasons for use, type of self-medication, and contributing factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Ola A. Mirdad & Ghada E. Esheba & Ahmed H. Mousa & Houriah Y. Nukaly & Yosra Z. Alhindi & Nahla H. Hariri & Nahla Ayoub & Safaa M. Alsanosi, 2023. "Over-the-Counter Medication Use among Parents in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-10, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:1193-:d:1030371
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shikha Gupta & Mary Ann McColl & Sara J.T. Guilcher & Karen Smith, 2019. "Managing Medication Cost Burden: A Qualitative Study Exploring Experiences of People with Disabilities in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Ishpa Shapiah Abdullah & Li Ling Chaw & David Koh & Zahid Hussain & Khang Wen Goh & Asma A’tiyah Abdul Hamid & Long Chiau Ming, 2022. "Over-the-Counter Medicine Attitudes and Knowledge among University and College Students in Brunei Darussalam: Findings from the First National Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Dalia Almaghaslah & Abdulrhman Alsayari & Rayah Asiri & Najla Albugami, 2019. "Pharmacy workforce in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and opportunities: A cross‐sectional study," International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 583-593, January.
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