Prevalence of Over-the-Counter Cosmeceutical Usage and the Impact of a Health Education Intervention in Female Saudi University Students

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic Characteristics of the 515 Sampled PNU Female Students

Variable	Frequency	(Percent)
Nationality
Saudi	504	(97.9%)
Non-Saudi	11	(2.1%)
Non-health colleges	340	(66.0%)
Health colleges	175	(34.0%)
Medical	80	(15.5%)
Dental	10	(1.9%)
Pharmacy	14	(2.7%)
Rehabilitation	34	(6.6%)
Nursing	37	(7.2%)
College year
Foundation	98	(19.0%)
First	109	(21.2%)
Second	90	(17.5%)
Third	105	(20.4%)
Fourth	69	(13.4%)
Fifth	44	(8.5%)
Monthly family income
<5000	55	(10.7%)
5000–10,000	140	(27.2%)
10,001–20,000	142	(27.6%)
20,001–30,000	97	(18.8%)
30,001–60,000	53	(10.3%)
>60,000	28	(5.4%)
Social status
Single	469	(91.1%)
Married	39	(7.6%)
Divorced	7	(1.4%)
Number of children
N/A*	468	(90.9%)
None**	25	(4.9%)
Pregnant	6	(1.2%)
One child	13	(2.5%)
Two children	2	(0.4%)
3 or more	1	(0.2%)

Notes: *N/A, not applicable, as the student is single; **None, married with no children.

Table 2 History of Chronic Illness Among the 515 Sampled PNU Female Students

Chronic Illness	Frequency	(Percent)
None	412	(80.0%)
Diabetes mellitus	10	(1.9%)
Hypertension	4	(0.8%)
Bronchial asthma	22	(4.3%)
Thyroid disorders	11	(2.1%)
Anemia	36	(7.0%)
Depression	10	(1.9%)
Other illness	10	(1.9%)

Table 3 Use of Different OTC Cosmeceuticals for the Hair Among the Sampled PNU Female Students

Hair OTC Cosmeceuticals	Frequency*	(Percent)
Oral OTC for hair strengthening	98	(19.0%)
Topical OTC for treatment of alopecia‎	163	(31.7%)
Topical OTC for treatment of thin hair	60	(11.7%)
Topical OTC for strengthening hair	107	(20.8%)
Topical OTC for straightening hair	99	(19.2%)
Topical OTC for curling hair	61	(11.8%)
Topical OTC for treatment of hair dandruff	95	(18.4%)
Topical OTC for treatment of white hair	9	(1.7%)
Topical OTC for treatment of hair lice	27	(5.2%)
Topical OTC for eye lashes	65	(12.6%)

Notes: *Frequency (%) out of the 515 sampled students; 419 (81.4%) reported using OTC cosmeceuticals, and 96 (18.6%) out of the total sampled students reported that they were nonusers.

Table 4 Use of Different OTC Cosmeceuticals for the Skin Among the Sampled PNU Female Students

Skin OTC Cosmeceuticals	Frequency*	(Percent)
Oral OTC for general skin health	47	(9.1%)
Oral OTC for treatment of acne	44	(8.5%)
Topical OTC for treatment of acne	179	(34.8%)
Topical OTC for treatment of acne marks	113	(21.9%)
Topical skin cleansing OTC	238	(46.2%)
Topical OTC for treatment of dry skin	260	(50.5%)
OTC for dry heels	33	(6.4%)
Topical OTC for treatment of vitiligo	2	(0.4%)
Topical OTC for skin tanning	41	(8.0%)
Topical OTC for skin whitening	63	(12.2%)
Topical OTC for treatment of eczema	41	(8.0%)
Topical OTC for treatment of stretch marks	38	(7.4%)
Topical OTC for treatment of bad skin odor	117	(22.7%)

Notes: *Frequency (%) out of the 515 sampled students; 419 (81.4%) reported using OTC cosmeceuticals, and 96 (18.6%) out of the total sampled students reported that they were nonusers.

Table 5 Use of Different OTC Products for the Nails and Mouth as Well as Oral Multivitamin Medications Among the Sampled PNU Female Students

OTC Cosmeceuticals	Frequency*	(Percent)
Topical OTC for general nail health	108	(21.0%)
Topical OTC for fungal nail infections	16	(3.1%)
Topical OTC for broken nails	81	(15.7%)
OTC for cleansing the mouth	166	(32.2%)
OTC for teeth whitening	169	(32.8%)
OTC for treatment of bad mouth odor	90	(17.5%)
Oral OTC multivitamins	163	(31.7%)

Notes: *Frequency (%) out of the 515 sampled students; 419 (81.4%) reported using OTC cosmeceuticals, and 96 (18.6%) out of the total sampled students reported that they were nonusers.

Table 6 Comparison Between OTC Cosmeceutical Users and Nonusers in Different College Years

Previous Use of OTCs		College Year						Total
		Foundation	First	Second	Third	Fourth	Fifth
No	Count	18	24	11	26	16	1	96
	% Previously use of OTC	18.8%	25.0%	11.5%	27.1%	16.7%	1.0%	100.0%
	Std. Residual	−0.1	0.8	−1.4	1.5	0.9	−2.5
Yes	Count	80	85	79	79	53	43	419*
	% Previously use of OTC	19.1%	20.3%	18.9%	18.9%	12.6%	10.3%	100.0%
	Std. Residual	0.0	−0.4	0.7	−0.7	−0.4	1.2
Total	Count	98	109	90	105	69	44	515
	% Previously use of OTC	19.0%	21.2%	17.5%	20.4%	13.4%	8.5%	100.0%

Note: *Pearson’s chi square test showed a P value of 0.012 (<0.05).

Figure 1 Comparison between health (blue bar) and non-health (Orange bar) college students concerning the use ‎‎(yes) or nonuse (no) of OTC cosmeceuticals.

Notes: Data represent the calculated comparative ‎percentage from a total of 515 samples. *Significant difference with P < 0.05.

Figure 2 Percentage using OTC cosmeceuticals (A), the factors affecting the choice of purchasers (B) and the source of information before purchase (C).

Figure 3 Comparison between health (blue bar) and non-health (Orange bar) college students knowledge scores regarding the use of OTC cosmeceuticals.

Notes: Data represent the calculated comparative percentage, ‎where the knowledge score was considered poor (0–1), moderate (2) ‎or excellent (3–4) (out of 4 ‎knowledge questions were answered correctly). *Significant difference with P < 0.05‎.

Figure 4 Comparison between before (A) and after (B) the awareness workshop concerning which ‎dosage formulation of OTC cosmeceuticals is considered safe. Data represent the calculated ‎comparative percentage from a total of 54 samples.

Figure 5 Comparison between before (A) and after (B) the awareness workshop concerning who/what ‎to consult before using OTC cosmeceuticals. Data represent the calculated comparative percentage ‎from a total of 54 samples.