Self medication among hospitalized patients in selected secondary health facilities in South Western Nigeria / Auto-medicación entre pacientes hospitalizados en establecimientos secundarios selectos en el sur oeste de Nigeria

Practice of self-medication has not been evaluated in hospitalized patients especially in Nigerian hospitals. Objectives: To evaluate the practice of self-medication among hospitalized patients with an aim to unearth some of the reasons for, and perceptions of benefits of this type of behaviour in secondary health care facilities. Methods: This study was carried out among 197 in-patients admitted in three secondary health facilities in southwestern Nigeria using structured questionnaire. Effects of variables such as age, gender and marital status on the practice of self medication were also evaluated using the Fisher's Exact test at p<0.05 as level of significance. Results: Response rate of the study was 93.8% with 174 respondents (88.3%) perceived that the medications prescribed for them were efficacious. Almost 38% of the respondents were self-medicating, with herbal medicines (29.2%) and western medicines (37%) partly due to side effects of the prescribed medicines. Thirty one (15.7%) respondents obtained medicines for self medication through relatives and friends. Prescription medicines used for self medication constituted 7.5%. Major reasons given for self medication included habit, availability and necessity. Ninety respondents (35.7%) had been informed by health care personnel about possible side effects of the medications. Ninety six respondents (48.7%) experienced side effects with the prescribed medications and was a major reason for self medication. Seventy six respondents (79.2%) who had side effects or other secondary symptoms informed healthcare personnel in the hospital while 16 (16.7%) informed relatives and friends. There was statistically significant association between age and the action taken on whom was informed (p=0.001). Conclusions: There is need for extra vigilance from health personnel directly responsible for care of hospitalized patients to look for incidences of self-medication and patient education on the negative aspects of administering undisclosed medicines to their health care givers especially while they are hospitalized (AU)

La práctica de la auto-medicación no ha sido evaluada en los pacientes hospitalizados, especialmente en Nigeria. Objetivos: Evaluar la práctica de auto-medicación entre pacientes hospitalizados con el objetivo de desenterrar algunos motivos y percepciones del beneficio de este comportamiento en establecimientos de cuidados secundarios. Métodos: Este estudio fue realizado entre 197 pacientes hospitalizados en tres establecimientos de cuidados secundarios en el suroeste de Nigeria utilizando un cuestionario estructurado. También se evaluó, utilizando la prueba exacta de Fischer con p<0,05 como nivel de significación, el efecto sobre la práctica de auto-medicación de variables como edad, género, estado civil. Resultados: La tasa de respuesta del estudio fue del 93,8% con 174 respondentes (88,3%) que percibían que los medicamentos prescritos eran eficaces para ellos. Casi el 38% de los respondentes se auto-medicaban, el 29,2% con plantas medicinales y el 37% con medicinas occidentales, en parte debido a los efectos secundarios de los medicamentos prescritos. 31 (15,7%) de los respondentes obtenía los medicamentos para auto-medicación de sus parientes y amigos. De los medicamentos de auto-medicación, el 7,5% eran medicamentos de prescripción. Las principales razones aportadas para la auto-medicación incluían la costumbre, la disponibilidad y la necesidad. 90 respondentes (35,7%) habían sido alertados por el personal sanitario de los posibles efectos secundarios de los medicamentos. 96 (48,7%) experimentó efectos secundarios de la medicación prescrita y esta fue la principal razón para la auto-medicación. 76 (79,2%) de los que habían tenido efectos secundarios informaron al personal sanitario del hospital, mientras que 16 (16,7%) que tuvo efectos secundarios u otros síntomas secundarios informó a sus parientes y amigos. Hubo una asociación estadística entre la edad y la acción tomada sobre quien era informado (p=0,001). Concusiones: Existe una necesidad de una vigilancia extra del personal sanitario directamente responsable de los cuidados de los pacientes hospitalizados para localizar la aparición de auto-medicación y de la educación de los aspectos negativos de la administración de medicamentos no declarada a sus profesionales de la salud, especialmente mientras están hospitalizados (AU)

Self medication among hospitalized patients in selected secondary health facilities in South Western Nigeria.

UNLABELLED: Practice of self-medication has not been evaluated in hospitalized patients especially in Nigerian hospitals. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the practice of self-medication among hospitalized patients with an aim to unearth some of the reasons for, and perceptions of benefits of this type of behaviour in secondary health care facilities. METHODS: This study was carried out among 197 in-patients admitted in three secondary health facilities in southwestern Nigeria using structured questionnaire. Effects of variables such as age, gender and marital status on the practice of self medication were also evaluated using the Fisher's Exact test at p<0.05 as level of significance. RESULTS: Response rate of the study was 93.8% with 174 respondents (88.3%) perceived that the medications prescribed for them were efficacious. Almost 38% of the respondents were self-medicating, with herbal medicines (29.2%) and western medicines (37%) partly due to side effects of the prescribed medicines. Thirty one (15.7%) respondents obtained medicines for self medication through relatives and friends. Prescription medicines used for self medication constituted 7.5%. Major reasons given for self medication included habit, availability and necessity. Ninety respondents (35.7%) had been informed by health care personnel about possible side effects of the medications. Ninety six respondents (48.7%) experienced side effects with the prescribed medications and was a major reason for self medication. Seventy six respondents (79.2%) who had side effects or other secondary symptoms informed healthcare personnel in the hospital while 16 (16.7%) informed relatives and friends. There was statistically significant association between age and the action taken on whom was informed (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is need for extra vigilance from health personnel directly responsible for care of hospitalized patients to look for incidences of self-medication and patient education on the negative aspects of administering undisclosed medicines to their health care givers especially while they are hospitalized.