https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4926-0685
Abstract
Background
Even though the type, extent and reasons for self-medication practice (SMP) vary, globally self-medication (SM) is rising to relieve burdens on health services. However, inappropriate SMP results in economic wastes, damage of vital organs, incorrect therapy selection, risk of adverse drug reactions and development of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. These consequences have severe implications including legal, ethical and quality of health-care delivery. Temporal increment and high prevalence of SM among health professionals is also a major bottleneck for Ethiopia. Hence, the study aimed to assess the SM among health-care professionals (HCPs) in selected governmental hospitals of Western Ethiopia.
Methods
An instiution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 338 HCPs using a pre-tested and self-adminstered questionnaries from March 1 to 25, 2018. Simple random sampling was used to select study participants and SMP (yes or no) was the outcome of the study variable. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) were calculated and all results were deemed to be statistically significant when p < 0.05.
Results
Among the 338 participants, 184 (54.4%) were females and the mean age of the study participants was 25±3.23 years. About 154 (45.6%) of them had work experience of less than 5 years and 49.7% were nurses by profession. The prevalence of SM was 73.4% with 3 months of recall for SM. Familiarity with medicines and ailments (46.8%) and mildness of illness (40.7%) were the most common reasons to self-medicate. The most frequently reported ailments were headache (37.1%) and gastric pain (29.8%). Analgesics (44.4%) and antibiotics (42.7%) were the most commonly used self-medicated categories of drugs. Female sex (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =2.13, 95% CI: 1.43–8.66), age 20–29 years (AOR=4.53, 95% CI: 1.01–14.45) and work experience of <5 years (AOR= 3.01, 95% CI: 1.32–11.71) were significantly associated with SMPs.
Conclusion
The study revealed a high prevalence of SMP among HCPs. Sex, age, and work experience were significantly associated with SMPs. Hence, the use of prescription drugs without prescription should be discouraged and appropriate health education should be provided by all concerned bodies on the proper use of drugs.
Abbreviations
AGH, Arjo general hospital; HCP, health-care professional; NRH, Nekemte referral hospital; OTC, over the counter; SGH, Sire general hospital; SM, self-medication; SMP, self-medication practice; WHO, World health organization; WURH, Wollega university referral hospital.
Data Sharing Statement
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Wollega University for logistic support and all individuals who rendered help during the study period. The authors are thankful to all the data collectors and study participants. The authors are also thankful to the management of respective study hospitals for permission and support to conduct the study.
Author Contributions
GF contributes to the design of the study, analysis and write up of the manuscript. DD, GZN, TBW, ET, TT, GF, TS, LA and MG contributed to the design, drafting and edition of the manuscripts. All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.