title: Pharmacoepidemiological study of self-medication in adults attending pharmacies in Alexandria, Egypt.
abstract: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the extent and pattern of self-medication among adults, to identify their knowledge and practice concerning the purchased drugs and to calculate prescribing and purchaser care indicators. Following WHO methods, 35 pharmacies were randomly selected from districts in Alexandria city, Egypt. Of 1294 clients interviewed at these pharmacies, 1050 (81.1%) purchased self-medication; the commonest reason given was a belief that the condition was minor. The most frequently dispensed drugs were those for the respiratory system. The mean number of drugs per encounter was 1.10, mean cost LE 7.29 and mean dispensing time 2.53 minutes. Purchasers' knowledge and practice regarding the purchased drugs were poor.
authors.affiliation: High Institute of Public Health, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sallam
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Khallafallah
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Okasha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology; D012651:Self Medication / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data