The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMSP) and analgesic self-medication. The knowledge and practices of those who self-medicate with analgesics and factors influencing this was also ascertained. This study was a quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study. A survey was conducted amongst 302 participants with musculoskeletal pain (MSP) attending a chiropractic clinic within a South African tertiary university from July to September 2022. The analysis of analgesic self-medication was limited to participants who reported having CMSP. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical software and methods, utilizing Chi-square, and nonparametric tests. There was a high prevalence of analgesic self-medication with 80% of respondents reporting self-medicating with analgesics to manage their CMSP, and a point prevalence of 57%. More females (86%) than males (69%) self-medicated with analgesics. Participants between 35 and 44 years were statistically more likely to self-medicate with analgesics (P = .048). The majority (96%) sourced their analgesics from a pharmacy without a prescription. It was found that the most frequently used analgesics were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) (70%) followed by paracetamol (58%) and combination analgesics (54%). A significant number of participants (55%) utilizing public health care services used combination analgesics obtained without a prescription compared to 34% of analgesic users that utilized private health care (P < .030). This study showed a high prevalence of self-medication with analgesics, particularly NSAIDs and paracetamol, in participants with CMSP. These findings can guide chiropractors in patient education, reducing self-medication risks and complications. 

Analgesic Self-medication Among Patients With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in a South African Chiropractic Teaching Clinic: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective: Pain relievers are one of the most frequently purchased over-the-counter medications and are vulnerable to be misused, leading to safety concerns. This study was conducted to assess the awareness and self-medication practices of over-the-counter analgesics amongst health professions students in a medical university.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, after obtaining ethical approval, using a self-developed, pilot tested (n=40), valid questionnaire comprising three sections; sociodemography, student awareness, analgesic use pattern. A sample of 379 (calculated sample size, n=400) covering all health stream students proportionately from Gulf Medical University, Ajman, UAE, were studied during October-December 2018 and data analysed using descriptive statistics (Mean±SD, frequency), Chi square test, and independent t test at alpha =0.05.
Results: Total 379 respondents (male 38.5%; n=146, female 61.5%; n=233 with mean ± SD age of 19.76±2.109 years) were enrolled. Commonly used painkillers were paracetamol 47.3% (n=187), ibuprofen 24% (n=95) and aspirin 14.4% (n=57).  Information available on package inserts were the source of information for 54.1% (n=119) respondents. Family and friends’ recommendations was reason for use of painkillers in 27.3% (n=93) of the students. Adverse effects mostly known were nausea 11.5% (n=92), drowsiness 8.9% (n=71) and vomiting 7.2% (n=58). Contraindications known were pregnancy 14.5% (n=225), liver disease 13.4% (n=208) and bleeding 13.3% (n=207). Findings showed 61.5% (n=233) were not aware of painkillers’ interactions with other medications. 
Conclusion: Though students were aware of the usage of analgesics, the utilization pattern is high, suggesting the need for further in-depth investigations.  Findings also showed the need for creating awareness among the students.

/pdf/awareness-and-utilization-pattern-of-over-the-counter-4s6vl01m4l.pdf

Awareness and Utilization Pattern of Over-the-Counter Painkillers amongst Health professional Students in a Medical University

Pain management with analgaesics employs a multidisciplinary approach of clinicians towards patients.  Nevertheless, preventing drug abuse and misuse in pain management is also an important goal. Understanding patients’ behaviour in the usage of painkillers may facilitate more effective communication and to educate them on the appropriate choice of painkillers. This study aimed to assess patients’ knowledge, attitude and practice towards painkillers. This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted from February to May 2016 among patients in Tawau Hospital. Respondents were selected via convenience sampling and interviewed based on a questionnaire to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice towards painkillers. A total of 193 questionnaires with complete responses were analysed. Most of the respondents(60.1%) obtained their painkillers from public facilities. Generally, they were very satisfied with the painkillers that they had used (36.7%). However, most of them (75.0%) did not know the name of the ingredient of the painkillers that they had taken before. They were also not aware of the side effects (73.1%) and allergicreactions (64.8%) caused by painkillers. Most of the respondents (58.5%) had not been informed regarding the side effects of the painkillers by healthcare professionals. Only 25.0% of the respondents had been asked regarding their past medical history, past medication history and allergic history by healthcare professionals before a painkiller was recommended to them. This study highlights the need of continuous efforts by healthcare professionals to inform patients of the proper use and risks associated with painkillers to improve the quality use of painkillers.

Patients’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Painkillers: Tawau Hospital Experience

Introduction: Self-medication with analgesics is usually defined as intake of any analgesics for treating oneself without professional supervision to relieve an illness or a condition. Self-medication with analgesics is an issue with serious global implications. This study it was aimed to determine pattern of self-medication with analgesics use among Minia University students, Minia, Egypt. Aim of study: to determine the prevalence of self-medication with analgesics among Minia University students and to identify the most common analgesics used and the causes of taking them. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of randomly selected students from Minia University. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire. Verbal consent was ensured before applying the questionnaire. The Chi square was performed using SPSS 20 to identify associations and differences. Results: The sample consisted of 758 students 64.5% females and 35.5% male students. Prevalence of self-medication with analgesics was 95.9%. Out of which 71.5% took paracetamol and 1.3% took tramadol without physician prescription. The most common cause of taking analgesic is headache followed by menstrual pain (48.7%) in female students and tooth, ear and throat pain (29.4%) in male students. Conclusion: Self-medication with analgesics by students is an important issue to be avoided. There is a need to raise the orientation and a health education to the curriculum of undergraduate students also raise the community awareness about these hazards 5and drawbacks.

Pattern of Self-medication with Analgesics among Minia University Students, Minia, Egypt

Analgesics are commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) medicines readily available for purchase, sometimes without advice of a health professional. However, analgesics can cause harm even when taken according to dosing recommendations. Young adults may be more vulnerable to harm if they perceive low risk with OTC analgesic use, or struggle to interpret dosing instructions. This study aimed to explore factors affecting how young adults use OTC analgesics and associated perceptions of safety. An online survey was distributed to school-leavers and university students (17 to 25 years), in South-East Queensland, Australia, in the period November-December 2019. Most of the 302 respondents (school-leavers n = 147, university students n = 155) did not use analgesics frequently. School-leavers deferred to parents for analgesic information, while university students preferred the internet. The majority of respondents appeared safety conscious and did not take outside indicated use or instructions. However, a small proportion reported taking analgesics for an inappropriate indication. The difference in preferred source of analgesic information may reflect experience with analgesic use, increasing autonomy or decreased parental influence. Whilst it is encouraging that the majority of young adults appeared safety conscious, greater insight is needed into factors influencing decision making on OTC use, e.g., medicines knowledge, and changes with increasing age.

What Do Young Adults Think about the Safety of Over-the-Counter Analgesics? Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey

Purpose: To ascertain the preference of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, Pakistan (CIIT) students for various ‘over the counter’ analgesics. Methods: This cross-sectional survey study on self-medication of ibuprofen in students of CIIT was conducted in July - August 2013 using a self-administered questionnaire. Five hundred students with an average age of 20 - 25 years cooperated in this inquisition. The questionnaire contained 18 questions including socio-demographic queries, economical status, perception of the frequency of pain, their locality, and behavior and knowledge of participants on the use of ibuprofen regarding its therapeutic and adverse effects, and interactions. Results: Out of the 500 participants in the study, 70.4 % were female. The response rate was 68.2 %. Ibuprofen (54 %) was the most used analgesic of all the NSAIDs among the respondents. Approximately, 11.2 % of the respondents reported that they suffer from pain almost every day. The younger and more educated respondents had better level of awareness about the ibuprofen’s indications as compared to those who had low level of education. Of the respondents, 29.6 % were not aware of any side effect caused by ibuprofen. Approximately, 22.4 % of the respondents had no knowledge of the interactions of ibuprofen while 61.2 % of the participants consult a physician about painkillers. Conclusion: Although many of the students undergo almost daily pain and favor ibuprofen over other NSAIDs analgesics among but they still lack information on its appropriate handling and safety. The overall result of the survey indicates very low level of information about the drug interaction.

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Assessment of the determinant of choice of ‘over the counter’ analgesics among students of a university in Abbottabad, Pakistan

Purpose : To determine the prevalence of hepatic infections, viz, hepatitis B (HBV) virus and hepatitis C virus (HCV), in the euthyroid population of Southern Punjab Province of Pakistan. Methods : A total of 120 euthyroid patients (36 male and 84 female) with a mean age of 30.7 ± 0.09 years) were included in this study. HBV and HCV, as well as the thyroid hormones, namely, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were detected in the serum of the subjects using commercial kits. Results : Out of 120 subjects 4 (3.3 %) were positive for HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) and 18 (15 %) for anti-HCV. HCV infection was approximately 4 times higher than HBV infection (p = 0.00028). Prevalence of HBsAg in males (8 %) was significantly higher than in females (1.2 %, p = 0.006345) whereas prevalence of HCV in males (16.7 %) was not significantly different from that in females (14.2 %, p = 0.521303). HCV (16.7 %) was significantly higher than HBV infection (8.33 %, p = 0.0102) in male sufferers. Similarly, among females patients, the incidence of HCV (14.2 %) was significantly higher (p = 0.000011) than HBV infection (1.2 %). Conclusion : The prevalence of HCV is higher than that of HBV in the studied population; furthermore, this prevalence of HCV is higher than values reported in other studies. The high level of HCV infection in the studied population is of concern, indicating the need for preventive measures to be put in place. Keywords : Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Prevalence, Euthyroid

/pdf/prevalence-of-hepatitis-b-and-c-virus-in-euthyroid-patients-4yw2cl29h5.pdf

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus in euthyroid patients

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Assessment of the determinant of choice of ‘over the counter’ analgesics among students of a university in Abbottabad, Pakistan

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus in euthyroid patients