Drug use and self-medication among children with respiratory illness or diarrhea in a rural district in Vietnam: a qualitative study

Figures & data

Appendix 1 Interview guide for the focus-group discussions

What type of drugs do you often use when your child suffers from acute respiratory illness? Why do you use this kind of drug? Where did you get the advice to use this drug? Where did you get the drug from? How do you use this drug? What did you do when your child got diarrhea? What type of drugs do you often use when your child suffers from diarrhea? Why do you use this kind of drug? Where did you get the advice to use this drug? Where did you get the drug from? How do you use this drug? What do you know about harmful effects of drugs? What do you think about getting a prescription? What are your thoughts about compliance to drug instructions? Have you experienced any problems with irrational drug use? Why did you choose to self-medicate your child when he/she fell ill?

Table 1 Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding drug use and self-medication: themes, categories, and a selection of codes

Themes	Categories	Codes
Misconception and misuse of drugs	Common drug use in cases of RI	Type of drug use in RI
	Common drug use in cases of diarrhea	Type of drug use in diarrhea
	Inappropriate duration of treatment	Number of treatment days Recovery from illness
	Poor dose compliance	Increasing dose Decreasing dose Flexible dose
	Insufficient knowledge of effects of drugs	Stunted growth Side-effects Antibiotic resistance
	Insufficient knowledge of efficacy of drugs	Strong drug Weak drug
Factors influencing self-medication	Perceptions of the illness	Minor illness Similar to previous illness Drug seller’s advice Previous prescription
	Time and convenience	Long waiting time Taking the child along Near drugstore Buy drug at any time
	Problems with behaviors and attitudes of medical staff	Scold Grouch Prescription according to guidelines Not willing to provide drug
	Insufficient drug supply in public health facilities	Drug shortage Improper drugs
	Poor control of prescribed drugs	Many types of drugs Variable prices Do not need prescription