Factors associated with self-medication among expatriate high school students: a cross-sectional survey in United Arab Emirates

Authors

  • Syed Ilyas Shehnaz Department of Pharmacology, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
  • Jayadevan Sreedharan Research Division, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
  • Nelofer Khan Department of Biochemistry, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
  • Khaled Jamal Issa Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
  • Mohamed Arifulla Department of Pharmacology, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2427/8724

Keywords:

Self-medication, Adolescents, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

The study aimed to assess factors associated with self-medication (SM) among expatriate high school students of United Arab Emirates using a validated questionnaire. Most common reasons for self-medication in 324 participating students were: presence of mild illness and previous experiences. High risk practices like altering the dose, discontinuation of medication and self-medication without adult guidance were observed. The likelihood of SM was 4.9 times (95%C.I.: 2.0-12.2) in students not utilizing private healthcare services than those who were utilizing these services. Increased efforts are needed to prevent the risks of self-medication in adolescents through healthcare education for both parents and adolescents.

Author Biographies

Syed Ilyas Shehnaz, Department of Pharmacology, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology

Jayadevan Sreedharan, Research Division, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Assistant Director and Professor of Biostatistics

Nelofer Khan, Department of Biochemistry, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Associate Professor

Mohamed Arifulla, Department of Pharmacology, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Dean of admissions and Professor of Pharmacology

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Published

2022-07-04

Issue

Section

Original articles