The Evaluation of the Awareness, Attitude and Practice of the Elderly Toward Self-Medication: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction The prevalence of various diseases in the elderly has increased the use of drugs, which is coupled with age-related physiological changes and places the elderly at risk for multiple side effects. The present study aimed to determine awareness, attitudes and practices of elderly towards self-medication.

Materials and Methods The sample included 300 participants over 60 years under any of the health centers in urban and rural areas of Abadeh city, who were selected based on stratified random sampling method. In order to collect data, the questionnaire including demographic information, awareness, attitude and performance of the elderly and the checklist of drug intractable consumption.

Results Based on the results, 76% of the elderly reported drug consumption. Regarding lifestyle, the average score of the elderly’s awareness for the elderly who lived with and without families were 78.6±14.2 and 69.2±13.6, respectively. In other words, a significant difference was observed between these two groups. In addition, there was a significant between the elderly’s performance score with and without family members about the self-medication (p=0.001).

Conclusion Considering the increase in self-medication among the elderly, adherence to prescription criteria for drug among this age group is recommended. Finally, designing and implementing various educational programs in health education center is necessary for the elderly and their families for the purpose of improving awareness and practice.

Key words

Self-medications - elderly - drug delivery

• References

• 1 Donkor ES, Tetteh-Quarcoo PB, Nartey P. et al. Self-medication practices with antibiotics among tertiary level students in Accra, Ghana: a cross-sectional study. Int J Enviro Rese Public Health 2012; 9: 3519-3529
• 2 Seifi B, Jalali S, Heidari M. Assessment effect of breast milk on diaper dermatitis. Dermatology Reports 2017; 9: 7044
• 3 Shamsi M, Sharifirad G, Kachoyee A. et al. The effect of educational program walking based on health belief model on control sugar in woman by type 2 diabetics. Iranian J Endocrinology Metabolism 2009; 11: 490-597
• 4 Alumran A, Hou X-Y, Hurst C. Assessing the overuse of antibiotics in children in Saudi Arabia: validation of the parental perception on antibiotics scale (PAPA scale). Health Quality Life Outcomes 2013; 11: 39
• 5 Carvalho MFC, Romano-Lieber NS, Bergsten-Mendes G. et al. Polypharmacy among the elderly in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil-SABE Study. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia 2012; 15: 817-827
• 6 Sapkota AR, Coker ME, Goldstein RER. et al. Self-medication with antibiotics for the treatment of menstrual symptoms in southwest Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2010; 10: 610
• 7 Badiger S, Kundapur R, Jain A. et al. Self-medication patterns among medical students in South India. Australasian Med J. 2012; 5: 217-220
• 8 Ruiz ME. Risks of self-medication practices. Current drug safety 2010; 5: 315-323
• 9 Montgomery A, Bradley C, Rochfort A. et al. A review of self-medication in physicians and medical students. Occup Med. 2011; 61: 490-497
• 10 Klemenc-Ketiš Z, Hladnik Ž, Kersnik J. A cross sectional study of sex differences in self-medication practices among university students in Slovenia. Collegium Antropologicum. 2011; 35: 329-334
• 11 Pan H, Cui B, Zhang D. et al. Prior knowledge, older age, and higher allowance are risk factors for self-medication with antibiotics among university students in southern China. PloS One 2012; 7: e41314
• 12 Neafsey PJ, M’lan CE, Ge M. et al. Reducing adverse self-medication behaviors in older adults with hypertension: Results of an e-health clinical efficacy trial. Ageing Int 2011; 36: 159-191
• 13 Heidari M, Ghodusi Borujeni M, Naseh L. Comparison of self-efficacy and loneliness between community-dwelling & institutionalized older people. Iranian J Ageing 2016; 11: 142-151
• 14 Heidari M, Ghodusi M, Shirvani M. Loneliness in Elderly and Non-elderly Residents of Nursing Homes. Int J Nurs Edu 2016; 8: 71-76
• 15 Heidari M, Ghodusi Borujeni M. Comparative self efficacy in elderly and non-elderly residents of family and nursing home in Shahrekord. J Geriatric Nurs 2014; 1: 68-78
• 16 Baghiani MM, Ehrampoush MH. Evaluation of attitude and practice of students of Yazd University of Medical Sciences to self-medication. Zahedan J Res Medi Sci (Tabib-E-Shargh) 2006; 8: 11-119
• 17 Masoudi Alavi N, Alami L, Taiefi S. et al. Self-treatment in diabetes mellitus in Kashan. Iranian J. Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2010; 12: 237-242
• 18 Shankar PR, Partha P, Shenoy N. Self-medication and non-doctor prescription practices in Pokhara valley, Western Nepal: A questionnaire-based study. BMC Family Practice 2002; 3: 17
• 19 De Bolle L, Mehuys E, Adriaens E. et al. Home medication cabinets and self-medication: A source of potential health threats?. Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2008; 42: 572-579
• 20 Haider SI, Johnell K, Thorslund M. et al. Analysis of the association between polypharmacy and socioeconomic position among elderly aged≥ 77 years in Sweden. Clinical Therapeutics. 2008; 30: 419-427
• 21 Mizokami F, Koide Y, Noro T. et al. Polypharmacy with common diseases in hospitalized elderly patients. American J Geriatric Pharmacotherapy 2012; 10: 123-128
• 22 Balbuena FR, Aranda AB, Figueras A. Self-medication in older urban mexicans. Drugs & Aging 2009; 26: 51-60
• 23 Hutcheson GD, Sofroniou N. The multivariate social scientist: Introductory statistic using generalized linear models. London: Sage Publication.; 1999. p: 112-113
• 24 Heuberger RA, Caudell K. Polypharmacy and nutritional status in older adults. Drugs & Aging 2011; 28: 315-323
• 25 Pavydė E, Veikutis V, Mačiulienė A. et al. Public knowledge, beliefs and behavior on antibiotic use and self-medication in Lithuania. Int J Envir Res Public Health 2015; 12: 7002-7016
• 26 Karimy M, Heidarnia A, Ghofranipour F. Factors influencing self-medication among elderly urban centers in Zarandieh based on Health Belief Model. AMUJ 2011; 14: 70-78
• 27 Aishwaryalakshmi K, Sasikala B, Sreelalitha N. et al. Assessment of Knowledge Perception and Attitudes on Medications in General Population. Int J Community Pharmacy 2012; 5: 6-13
• 28 Lowe CJ, Raynor DK, Courtney EA. et al. Effects of self medication programme on knowledge of drugs and compliance with treatment in elderly patients. BMJ 1995; 310: 1229-1231
• 29 Lowe CJ, Raynor DK, Purvis J. et al. Effects of a medicine review and education programme for older people in general practice. British J Clinical Pharmacology 2000; 50: 172-175
• 30 Parsa P, Rezapur-Shahkolai F, Araghchian M. et al. Medical Procedure Problems from the Viewpoint of Elderly Referrals to Healthcare Centers of Hamadan: A Qualitative Study. Iranian Journal of Ageing 2017; 12: 146-155
• 31 Philbert D, Notenboom K, Bouvy ML. et al. Problems experienced by older people when opening medicine packaging. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice. 2014; 22: 200-204
• 32 Van Geffen EC, Meuwese E, Philbert D. et al. Problems with medicine packages: experiences reported to a Dutch medicine reporting system. Annals Pharmacotherapy 2010; 44: 1104-1109
• 33 Caamaño-Isorna F, Montes A, Takkouche B. et al. Do pharmacists' opinions affect their decision to dispense or recommend a visit to a doctor?. Pharmacoepidemiology Drug Safety 2005; 14: 659-664
• 34 Davati A, Jaffari F, Samad Pour M. et al. Medication review in elderly in Tehran. J Med Council Islamic Rep Iran 2007; 25: 450-456
• 35 Amoako EP, Richardson-Campbell L, Kennedy-Malone L. Self-medication with over-the-counter drugs among elderly adults. J Gerontological Nurs 2003; 29: 10-15
• 36 Bahat G, Tufan F, Bahat Z. et al. Assessments of functional status, comorbidities, polypharmacy, nutritional status and sarcopenia in Turkish community-dwelling male elderly. Aging Male. 2013; 16: 67-72