Self-medication practice and its associated factors in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Self-medication, which is the practice of taking the medication without any prescriptions, is beneficial for the general public as well as health professionals. However, risks that caused by inappropriate practice cannot be overlooked. The responsibility of health personnel to aid people self-medicate safely is needed.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate self-medication practice, knowledge of medicine use, medication literacy, and factors affecting self-medication practice among people in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in Phnom Penh from January to February 2021. A structured questionnaire with face-to-face interviews was employed to collect data from 383 respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
RESULTS: Among study respondents, 67.60% stated to practice self-medication in the last 12 months.
The commonly used medication was antipyretic (25.20%) and a health complaint was headache (21.60%). A pharmacist (28.80%) was the main source of information and uncomplicated disease condition (40.90%) was the leading reason for self-medication practice. It was found that 57.20% and 55.6% of study respondents were in low level of knowledge of medication use and critical medication literacy respectively. Monthly income (adjOR: 3.69; 95%CI: 1.11-12.25), chronic disease (adjOR : 0.42; 95%CI: 0.18-0.97), and medication literacy (adjOR: 0.41; 95%CI: 0.19-0.89) were the three factors which influenced self-medication practice.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The results of this study illustrated that self-medication was common among study population with minor illness and easy to access medicines. Variables including income, chronic disease, and medication literacy were significantly affected self-medication practice. Health professionals, especially community pharmacists should provide more education about appropriate self-medication practice.
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