title: Self-medication with drugs and complementary and alternative medicines in Alexandria, Egypt: prevalence, patterns and determinants.
abstract: This study aimed to describe the prevalence, pattern and reasons for self-medication among adults in Alexandria, Egypt. In a community-based survey during 2012, a representative sample of 1100 adults completed a predesigned interview questionnaire on self-medication practices by drugs and complementary or alternative medicines (CAM). A majority of them practised self-medication (86.4%), mostly using both drugs and CAM (77.5%). The most commonly used drugs were analgesics (96.7%), and cough and cold preparations (81.9%), but 53.9% of respondents reported self-medication with antibiotics. The most frequently used CAM were herbs (91.6%), followed by spiritual healing (9.4%) and cupping and acupuncture (6.4%). CAM improved the condition according to 95.2% of users. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, occupation and the presence of chronic conditions were the independent factors significantly affecting the practice of self-medication with drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: El-Nimr
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: I M H
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Wahdan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, High Institute of Public Health, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt. imanwahdan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: A M H
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wahdan
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Health Care, High Institute of Public Health, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Kotb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs