Public knowledge of self-medication in Ngaglik subdistrict of Sleman regency

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is the use of medicines without a prescription or health professional advice. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are the most commonly used in self-medication. Knowledge and practices of self-medication is important to be assessed to assure the appropriate use of medicines. Objective: This study was aimed to investigate public knowledge and practices of self-medication in Ngaglik Subdistrict of Sleman Regency. Methods: A Cross-sectional survey was conducted in 3 villages in Ngaglik Subdistrict of Sleman Regency. A total of 339 participants were selected through cluster sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Results: The majority of participants were female (61.7%) aged between 26-45 years (49.9%). More than fifty percent participants (59%) attended senior high school education, and 49.9% participants had good knowledge of OTC self-medication. The level of knowledge of self-medication was significantly associated with the level of education (p values<0.05). The most commonly used OTC medicines for self-medication were analgesics and antipyretics (48.4%), respiratory drugs (29.7%), and gastrointestinal drugs (9.6%). OTC medicine advertisement was the common source of information about medicines for self-medication (39.5%) whereas the source of information from health professional accounted for only 2.4%. Conclusion: The public knowledge of self-medication still needs improving. Health professionals, especially pharmacists, should provide more information on OTC medicines for public to allow them to access other sources than medicine advertisements. Latar