Self-medication with common household medicines by young adolescents.
Our study examines the self-medication practices of children ages 10-14. We developed a questionnaire that addressed several aspects of such behavior. A convenience sample of subjects (n = 86) completed the questionnaires in school settings in a northeastern metropolitan area. The data showed that a vast majority of the adolescents (89%) have access to the medicine in their households: 36% of them medicated themselves the last time they had any medicine. Most of their medication choices were appropriate, except in the area of gastrointestinal problems. There is a need for further investigation of this issue and incorporating the findings into the practice of pediatric nurses.
Sloand
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Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205-2110, USA. bsloand@son.jhmi.edu
Vessey
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D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009511:New England; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012573:School Nursing; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires