Prevalence, attitude and practice of self-medication among adolescents and the paradigm of dysmenorrhea self-care management in different countries

Main Article Content

Vincenzo De Sanctis
Ashraf T Soliman
Shahina Daar
Salvatore Di Maio
Rania Elalaily
Bernadette Fiscina
Christos Kattamis

Keywords

Self-medication, adolescents, potential risks, dysmenorrhea, health problem

Abstract

Self-medication (SM) is an important worldwide public health issue affecting children and adolescents. The pattern of SM varies in different communities, affected by factors such as age, sex, income, expense, self-care orientation, educational level and medical knowledge. It is a fairly common practice: for minor health problems, it often provides cheap, rapid, and convenient solutions, outside of the health care system of many countries. Painkillers, antipyretics, cough medicines, cold preparations, dermatological products, nutritional supplements and antibiotics are the drugs most frequently used. Potential risks include incorrect self-diagnosis, improper dosage, inappropriate choice of therapy, masking of severe disease and drug interactions. Lack of awareness of warnings and precautions, storage conditions, the recommended shelf-life and adverse reactions increase the risk of side effects. Little is known about the SM of dysmenorrhea by adolescent girls. Attitudes towards treatment are influenced by cultural, ethnic, and religious factors. Some girls discuss dysmenorrhea with family and friends, and the majority may not seek medical advice. As dysmenorrhea is a common problem for adolescents, it is essential that these girls be aware of the normal and abnormal symptoms of menstruation. In the light of these findings, the roles of family, school, health professionals and health authorities are of utmost importance for the implementation of measures to approach this health problem in a more efficient way.

Abstract 3187 | PDF Downloads 1921

References

1. Medicines: Rational use of medicines. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2010. http://www.who.int/ mediacentre/factsheets/ fs338/en/. Accessed 28 March 2012.

2. Guidelines for the Regulatory Assessment of medicinal products for use in Self-Medication. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2000. http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/pdf/s2218e/s2218e.pdf.
Accessed 28 March 2012, [cited in ‘‘The role of pharmacist in self-care and self-medication’’. http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/pdf/whozip32e/whozip32e.pdf. Accessed 28 March 2012].

3. Al Flaiti M, Al Badi K, Hakami WO, Khan SA. Evaluation of self-medication practices in acute diseases among university students in Oman. J Acute Dis. 2014;3:249–252.

4. Bennadi D. Self-medication: A current challenge. J Basic Clin Pharm. 2013;5:19-23.

5. Hughes CM, McElnay JC, Fleming GF. Benefits and risks of self medication. Drug Saf. 2001; 24:1027-1037.

6. Shankar PR, Partha P, Shenoy N. Self-medication and non-doctor prescription practices in Pokhara valley, Western Nepal: a questionnaire based study. BMC Fam Pract. 2002; 3:17.

7. Hernandez‑Juyol M, Job‑Quesada JR. Dentistry and self‑medication: A current challenge. Med Oral. 2002;7:344‑347.

8. Porteous T, Bond C, Hannaford P, Sinclair H. How and why are non‑prescription analgesics used in Scotland? Fam Pract. 2005;22:78‑85.
9. World Health Organization. The role of the pharmacist in self-care and self-medication.World Heal Organ. 1998:15:5-7.

10. Rutter P. Role of community pharmacists in patients' self-care and self-medication. Integr Pharm Res Pract. 2015;4:57-65.

11. Hebeeb GE, Gearhart JG. Common patient symptoms: patterns of self-treatment and prevention. J Miss State Med Assoc 1993;34:179-181.

12. Al Khaja KAJ, Handu SS, James H, Otoom S, Sequeira RP. Evaluation of the knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication among first-year medical students. Med Princ Pract. 2006;15:270-275.

13. Martins AP, Miranda AC, Mendes Z, Soares MA, Ferreira P, Nogueria A. Self medication in a Portuguese urban population: a prevalence study. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2002;11:409-414.

14. Nicholls PJ, Stevens RG, Albahsain NA. Medication used by Saudi girls. Saudi Pharm J.2002; 10:126–132.

15. Tse MHW, Chung JTN, Munro JGC. Self medication among secondary school pupils in Hong Kong: A descriptive study. Fam Pract.1989; 6:303–306.
16. ALBashtawy M, Batiha AM, Tawalbeh L, Tubaishat A, Al Azzam M. Self-medication among school students. J Sch Nurs. 2015;31:110-116.

17. Pereira FS, Bucaretchi F, Stephan C, Cordeiro R. [Self-medication in children and adolescents]. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2007;83:453–458 [in Portuguese].

18. Shehnaz SI, Agarwal AK, Khan N. A systematic review of self-medication practices among adolescents.
J Adolesc Health. 2014; 55:467-483.

19. Abahussain E, Matowe LK, Nicholls PJ. Self-reported medication use among adolescents in Kuwait. Med Princ Pract. 2005;14:161-164.

20. Lee C-H, Chang F-C, Hsu S-D, Chi H-Y, Huang L-J, Yeh M-K. Inappropriate self-medication among adolescents and its association with lower medication literacy and substance use. PLoS ONE. 2017; 12(12): e0189199. https://doi.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0189199

21. da Silva CH, Giugliani ER. [Consumption of medicines among adolescent students: A concern]. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2004;80:326–332. [in Portuguese]

22. Darmanin Ellul R, Cordina M, Buhagiar A, Fenech A, Mifsud J. Health complaints and use of medicines among adolescents in Malta. Pharm Pract (Granada). 2008;6:165–170.

23. Du Y, Knopf H. Self-medication among children and adolescents in Germany: Results of the National Health Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS). Br J Clin Pharmacol.2009;68:599–608.

24. Hansen EH, Holstein BE, Due P, Currie CE. International survey of self-reported medicine use among adolescents. Ann Pharmacother. 2003; 37: 361–366.

25.Dengler R, Roberts H. Adolescents’ use of prescribed drugs and over-the-counter preparations. J Public Health Med.1996; 18: 437–442.

26. Roth-Isigkeit A, Thyen U, Stoven H, Schwarzenberger J, Schmucker P. Pain among children and adolescents: restrictions in daily living and triggering factors. Pediatrics. 2005; 115: e152–162.

27. Holstein BE, Hansen EH, Due P, Almarsdottir AB. Self-reported medicine use among 11- to 15-year-old girls and boys in Denmark 1988–1998. Scand J Public Health. 2003; 31: 334–241.

28. Holstein BE, Andersen A, Krolner R, Due P, Hansen EH. Young adolescents’ use of medicine for headache: sources of supply, availability and accessibility at home. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2008; 17: 406–410.

29. Pfaffenbach G, Tourinho FSV, Bucaretchi F. Self-Medication Among Children and Adolescents. Curr Drug Saf. 2010;5:324-328.

30. Shehnaz SI, Agarwal AK, Khan N. A systematic review of self-medication practices among adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2014;55:467-483.

31. Gualano MR, Bert F, Passi S, Stillo M, Galis V, Manzoli L, Siliquini R . Use of self-medication among adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Public Health.2015;25:444-450.

32. Ruiz ME. Risks of self-medication practices. Curr Drug Saf. 2010;5:315-23.

33. Ngoh LN. Health literacy: a barrier to pharmacist-patient communication and medication adherence.
J Am Pharm Assoc. 2009; 49:e132-146.

34. Weiss BD. 20 Common Problems in Primary Care. New York: McGraw Hill. 1999.

35. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S, Wilkey S, Van Rompay M, Kessler RC. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: results of a follow-up national survey. JAMA. 1998; 280:1569-1575.

36. Lam A, Bradley G. Use of self-prescribed nonprescription medications and dietary supplements among
assisted living facility residents. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2006;46:574-581.

37. Kuzman M, Posavec M. Medical use, nonmedical use of prescription medication and risk behaviour among Croatian adolescents. Psychiatr Danub. 2016; 28 (Suppl 2):223-233.

38. Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. JAMA. 1998;279:1200–1205.

39. Pirmohamed M, James S, Meakin S, Green C, Scott AK, Walley TJ, Farrar K, Park BK, Breckenridge AM. Adverse drug reactions as cause of admission to hospital: prospective analysis of 18 820 patients. BMJ. 2004;329:15–19.
40. Goldsworthy RC, Mayhorn CB. Prescription medication sharing among adolescents: prevalence, risks, and outcomes. J Adolesc Health. 2009;45:634-637.

41. Westerlund M, Branstad JO, Westerlund T. Medicine-taking behaviour and drug related problems in adolescents of a Swedish high school. Pharm World Sci. 2008;30:243–250.

42. Hawking MK, Lecky DM, Touboul Lundgren P, Aldigs E, Abdulmajed H, Ioannidou E, Paraskeva-Hadjichambi D, Khouri P, Gal M, Hadjichambis AC, Mappouras D, McNulty CA. Attitudes and behaviours of adolescents towards antibiotics and self-care for respiratory tract infections: a qualitative study. BMJ Open. 2017 Jun 6;7(5):e015308. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015308.
43.European Commission. Special eurobarometer 407: antimicrobial resistance. secondary special eurobarometer 407: antimicrobial resistance. 2013 http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ ebs_407.

44. World Health Organisation. Combating antimicrobial resistance, including antibiotic resistance. 2014 http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf files/EB134/ B134 R13- en.pdf.

45. Tuyishimire J, Okoya F, Adebayo AJ, Humura F, Lucero-Prisno III DE. Assessment of self-medication practices with antibiotics among undergraduate university students in Rwanda. Pan Afr Med J. 2019;33:307. doi:10.11604/pamj.2019.33.307.18139.

46. O’Connell K, Davis AR, Westhoff C. Self-treatment patterns among adolescent girls with dysmenorrhea. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2006;19:285-289.

47. Sugumar R, Krishnaiah V, Channaveera GS, Mruthyunjaya S. Comparison of the pattern, efficacy, and tolerability of self-medicated drugs in primary dysmenorrhea: a questionnaire based survey. Indian J Pharmacol. 2013;45:180-183.

48. De Sanctis V, Soliman A, Bernasconi S, Bianchin L, Bona G, Bozzola M, Buzi F, De Sanctis C, Tonini G, Rigon F, Perissinotto E. Primary Dysmenorrhea in Adolescents: Prevalence, Impact and Recent Knowledge. Pediatr Endocrinol Rev. 2015;13:512-520.

49.Wong LP, Khoo EM. Menstrual-related attitudes and symptoms among multi-racial Asian adolescent females. Int J Behav Med. 2011;18:246-253.

50. Chiou M-H, Wang H-H. Predictors of dysmenorrhea and self-care behavior among vocational nursing school female students. J Nurs Res. 2008;16:17–25.

51. Davis A, O’Connell K.Gallagher N, Westhoff C. Self-treatment patterns among adolescent girls with moderate or severe primary dysmenorrhea. J Adolesc Health.2004;34:134.

52.Chen L, Tang L, Guo S, Kaminga AC, Xu H. Primary dysmenorrhea and self-care strategies among Chinese college girls: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2019 Sep 18;9(9):e026813. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026813.

53. Campbell MA, McGrath PJ. Use of medication by adolescents for the management of menstrual discomfort. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.1997;151:905-913.

54. Ruiz ME. Risks of self-medication practices. Curr Drug Saf. 2010;5:315–23.

55. Hughes C, McElnay J, Fleming G. Benefits and risk of self-medication. Drug Saf. 2001;24:1027–37.

56. de Sanctis V, Matalliotakis M, Soliman AT, Elsefdy H, Di Maio S, Fiscina B. A focus on the distinctions and current evidence of endometriosis in adolescents. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2018;51:138-150.