PREVALENCE AND INFLUENCING FACTORS OF SELF-MEDICATION WITH ANALGESICS AMONG ADULTS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Analgesics has been used to relieve pain since the discovery of pain killers and humankind is searching ways to alleviate pain.Self-medication practice (SMP) is common among the society.Irrational SMP could be prevented by pharmacist interventions.This study aims to evaluate the self-medication behaviours and related factors of analgesics use.Online questionnaire was disseminated between February-July 2020 in this observational study.The survey was structured into 2 sections demographics (11 items) and analgesic use behaviour (14 items).A binary logistic regression model has been conducted for the evaluation of the related factors for SMP.The mean age of 376 individuals was 32.5 13.8.Majority of the participants (89.6%) indicated that they used analgesics without a prescription.Most common reasons for analgesics use were headache (46.3%), stomachache (13.8%), toothache (6.4%) and menstrual pain (5.8%).Out of 18 predictors, six were found statistically significant.The influencing factors for SMP were being employed (OR: 2.968; 95% CI:1.073-8.125;p = 0.036), lack of health insurance (OR: 4.312; 95% CI: 1.034 -17.975; p = 0.045), recommending analgesic to others (OR: 3.446; 95% CI: 1.41 -8.40; p = 0.006).This study highlighted the high rate of SMP and related factors. RezumatAcest studiu evalueaz comportamentele de automedicaie i factorii legai de utilizarea analgezicelor.Un chestionar online a fost diseminat n perioada februarie-iulie 2020 n cadrul acestui studiu observaional.Chestionarul a fost structurat n 2 seciuni: date demografice (11 ntrebri) i comportamentul de utilizare a analgezicelor (14 ntrebri).Un model de regresie logistic binar a fost realizat pentru a evalua factorii legai de practica automedicaiei.Vrsta medie a celor 376 de persoane a fost de 32,5 13,8 ani.Majoritatea participanilor (89,6%) au indicat c au utilizat analgezice fr prescripie medical.Cele mai frecvente motive pentru utilizarea analgezicelor au fost durerile de cap (46,3%), durerile de stomac (13,8%), durerile de dini (6,4%) i durerile menstruale (5,8%).Dintre cei 18 factori luai n considerare, ase s-au dovedit a fi semnificativi din punct de vedere statistic.Factorii de influen pentru SMP au fost statutul de angajat (OR: 2,968; 95% CI: 1,073 -8,125; p = 0,036), lipsa asigurrii de sntate (OR: 4,312; 95% CI: 1,034 -17,975; p = 0,045), recomandarea analgezicelor altora (OR: 3,446; 95% CI: 1,41 -8,40; p = 0,006).Acest studiu a evideniat rata ridicat de automedicaie i factorii asociai.