Self-medication and its Effective Modifiable Factors among Elderly Referred Health Care Centers in Shahr-e-Kord in 2015

Authors

  • Heidarali Abedi Ph.D. of Nursing, Professor, Faculty member, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Keywords:

Elderly, Self-medication, HBM, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Drug overuse is a serious problem for health care, and one of the biggest problems for the socio-economic well-being of different communities. The elderly tend to use more drugs due to changes in their cognitive and physiological factors. One of the best ways to evaluate the health level of elderly people is to evaluate their self-medication. This study was conducted to investigate self-medication among the elderly in Shahr-e-Kord.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 people older than 65 in Shahr-e-Kord in 2015. Sampling was done in two stages. In the first stage, the city of Shahr-e-Kord was divided into four areas using geographical maps. Eighty-eight people were selected from each area. The research instrument was a questionnaire called the Health Belief Model (HBM). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, the chi-squared test, the independent-samples t-test, and the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results: No significant relationship was observed between the prevalence of self-medication with demographic variables and level of awareness. But there was a significant difference between sensitivity, perceived severity, and perceived barriers and educational level. There also was a significant difference between the perceived benefits and their income level. There also was a significant difference between the level of awareness, sensitivity, severity, benefits, and barriers of people with and without a history of self-medication (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Due to the adverse effects of self-medication and the high prevalence of this activity among the elderly, it is recommended that a training program be developed and implemented to change the knowledge and beliefs of the elderly about self-medication.

 

References

Karimy M, Heidarnia AR, Ghofranipour F. Factors influencing self-medication elderiy urban centers in

Zarandie based on health belief model. Arak medical university journal. 2012; 14(58): 1-11.

Masoudi Alavi N, Alami L, Taiefi S, Sadafi Z. Self Treatment in Diabetes Mellitus in Kashan. Iranian

Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2010; 12(3): 237-42.

Pourreza A, Khabiri R, Arab M, Akbari Sari A, Rahimi A. A Toll Healthcare-Seeking Behavior in Tehran,

Iran and Factors Affecting it. J Sch Public Health Inst Public Health Res. 2009; 2(7): 1-13

Moghadam Nia A. Self medication in cold among population above 15 years of age in Babol. J Babol Univ

Med Sci Journal of Babol University of Medical Science. 2007; 9(6): 26-32.

Brown CJ, Pagan JA, Rodriguez-Oreggia E. The decision-making process of health care utilization in

Mexico. Health Policy. 2005; 72(1): 81-91. PMID: 15760701

Neafsey PJ, Luciano S, Coffman M. Self-Medication Practices of Spanish-Speaking Older Adults. Hispanic

Health Care Int. 2007; 5(4): 169-79. doi: 10.1891/154041507783095795.

Mosleh A, Darbooy SH, Khoshnevis Ansari SH, Mohammadi M. prescription based on WHO indicators:

Tehran University of medical sciences Drug facilities with pharmacy. Tehran University Medical Journal.

; 65(Suppl 2): 12-5.

Asefzadeh S, Anbarloyee M, Habibi SH, Rezaei M. Prevalence of Self-medication of among patient care in

hospital inQazvin city. Sci J Univ Med Sci Qazvin. 2003; 5(4): 48-52.

BaghianiMoghadam MH, Ehrampoush MH. Evaluation of attitude and practice of students of Yazd

University of medical sciences to self medication. Tabib Shargh. Journal of Zahedan university of Medical

Sciences. 2006; 2(8): 111-9.

de Melo MC, Souza AL, Leandro EL, Mauricio HeA, Silva ID, de Oliveira JM. Education in health as a

life quality promoter for elderly people. Cien Saude Colet. 2009; 5(2): 52-62. PMID: 19750367.

De Bolle L, Mehuys E, Adriaens E, Remon JP, Van Bortel L, Christiaens T. Home medication cabinets and

self-medication: a source of potential health threats? Ann Pharmacother. 2008; 42(4): 572-9. doi:

1345/aph.1K533, PMID: 18364405.

Seyam SH. The status of self-medication in Rasht. J Birjand Univ Med Sci. 2003; 10(1): 3-5.

Amani F, Shaker A, Soltan Mohaammadzadeh M, Alaaf Akbari N, Sarrafe Smaeili S. Drug Use Pattern

Between Urban Families In Ardabil City, Iran. Payavard. 2012; 5(5): 36-45.

Rana AK, Wahlin A, Lundborg CS, Kabir ZN. Impact of health education on health-related quality of life

among elderly persons: results from a community-based intervention study in rural Bangladesh. Health

Promot int. 2009; 24(1): 36-45. doi: 10.1093/heapro/dan042, PMID: 19136677.

Sharifi M, Mahyar A, Kashani Pour N, Karim Zadeh T, Mohammadi F. The use of non-prescribed

antibiotic in diarrheal children by mothers in Qods Children Hospital. J Qazvin Univ Med Sci. 2005; 9(3):

-9.

Shankar PR, Partha P, Shenoy N. Self-medication and non-doctor prescription practices in Pokhara valley,

Western Nepal. a questionnaire-based study. BMC FAM Pract. 2002; 3: 17. doi: 10.1186/1471-2296-3-17,

PMID: 12236905, PMCID: PMC130019.

Shrifi Rad GHR, Mohebi S, Motalebi M, Abbasi MH, Rejati F, Tal A. The Prevalence and Effective

Modifiable Factors of Self-Medication Based on the Health Belief Model among Elderly Adults in

Gonabad, Iran. health system research. 2012; 7(4): 1-10.

Shamsi M, Tajik R, Mohammadbegee A. Effect of education based on Health Belief Model on self- medication in mother’s referringto health centers of Arak. Arak University of Medical Sciences Journal.

; 12(3): 57-66.

Davati A, Jaffari F, Samad Pour M, Tabar K. Medication review in elderly in Tehran. Journal of Medical

Council of Islamic Republic of Iran. 2007; 25(4): 450-6.

Khaksar A, Forouz N, Moosavizadeh K. A survey of the frequency of admini stering drugs without

prescription among the students of medicine and engineering in 82-83. Journal of Jahrom Medical School.

; 3(3): 21-8.

Dianati M, Shojaegharebag Gh, Mesdaghinia A, Taghadosi M, Shenasa F, Taiebi A, et al. Polypharmacy

and its related factors among the elderly population in Kashan, Iran during 2011-2012. Journal of Kashan

University of Medical Sciences. 2015; 18(6): 578-84.

Tajik R, Shamsi M, Mohammad Beygee M. Survey Prevalence of Self Medication and Factors Effected in

Woman’s Arak City. Scientific Journal of Hamadan Nursing and Midwifery Faculty. 2008; 16(1): 29-34

Abasi N, Abdeh Zadeh M. The status of self-medication in Ilam. J Ilam Univ Med Sci. 2004; 12(1-2): 53-9

Delshad Noghabi A, Balochi Beydokhti T, Shamshiri M, Shareinia H, Radmanesh R. Polypharmacy and its

Related Factors among Elderlies. Iran J Nurs. 2013; 26(83): 1-9.

Lau GS, Lee KK, Luk CT. Self-medication among university students in Hong Kong. Asia Pac J Public

Health. 1995; 8(3): 153-7. PMID: 10050180.

Abahussain E, Matowe LK, Nicholls PJ. Self-reported medication use among adolescents in Kuwait. Med

Princ Pract. 2005; 14(3): 161-4. PMID: 15863989.

Matano RA, Wanat SF, Westrup D, Koopman C, Whitsell SD. Prevalence of alcohol and drug use in a

highly educated workforce. J Behav Health Serv Res. 2002; 29(1): 30-44. PMID: 11840903.

Amoako EP, Richardson-Campbell L, Kennedy-Malone L. Self-medication with over-the-counnter drugs

among elderly adults. J Gerontol Nurs. 2003; 29(8): 10-5. PMID: 13677155.

Sahebi L, Seydi A, Amini S, Mousa Khani M. Self-medication status among referring patients to tabriz

pharmacies. Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2008; 14(4): 174-81.

Nohi A, Karimi T, Iranmanesh S. Realition Between fear of death in elderly Esfahan City. Journal of

Elderly Iran. 2013; 8(31): 32-40.

Yavari H, Akbari kamani A, Saboor M. Assessment of poly pharmacy and social in kahrizak home. Journal

of Elderly Iran. 2013; 7(31): 8-14.

Akbari N, Parvin N, Sereshti M, Safdari F. Study about different types of medicinal plants used by elderly

people in Shahrekord city. Journal of Shahrekord Universityof Medical Sciences(JBUMS). 2009; 12(4):

-33.

Bagheri A, Naghdi B, Maki zadeh M, Hemati AR, Movahedian F. Evaluation of using herbal medicine in

Isfahan women population. J Med Plants. 2005; 4(15): 10-20.

Loyola Filho AI, Uchoa E, Firmo JO, Lima-Costa MF. A population-based study on use of medications by

elderly Brazilians: The Bambui Health and Aging Study. (BHAS). Cad Saude Publica. 2005; 21(2): 545- 53. doi: 10.1590/S0102-311X2005000200021, PMID: 15905917.

Linjakumpu T, Hartikainen S, Klaukka T, Veijola J, Kivela SL, Isoaho R. Use of medications and

polypharmacyare increasing among the elderly. J Clin Epidemiol. 2002; 55(8): 809-17. doi:10.1016/S0895- 4356(02)00411-0, PMID: 12384196.

Riedeman JP, Illesca M, Droghetti J. Self medication among patients with musculoskeletal symptoms in

Araucania region. Rev Med Chil. 2001; 129(6): 647-52. PMID: 11510205.

Antonov K, Isacson D. Use of analgesics in Sweden-the importance of sociodemographic factors, physical

fitness, health and health-related factors, and working conditions. Soc Sci Med. 1996; 42(11): 1473-81.

PMID: 8771630.

Tavakoli R. The survey of important socio-economic and cultural variables influencing self medication.

Daneshvar Medicine. 2001; 8(34): 9-12.

Porteous T, Bond C, Hannaford P, Sinclair H. How and why are non-prescription analgesics used in

Scotland? Fam Pract. 2005; 22(1): 78-85. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmh719, PMID: 15640291.

Farhadi A, Foroghan m, Mohamadi f, Sahranavard m. Effect of implantation oF plan of education of safety

life in quality of life of elderly in dashti city. Journal of Elderly Iran. 2013; 8(28): 34-40.

Lin JH, Hung MW, Wang DW, Chen YM, Lin CS,Tang YJ, et al. Late-Life depression and quality of life

in the geriatric and evaluation and management unit: an exploratory study. BMC Geriatr. 2014; 18(4): 70-7.

doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-14-77, PMID: 24941865.

Ziayee T, Azgholi G, Yaghmaei F, Akbar Zadeh AR. The survey of self medication in woman with

pregnancy in Tehran. J Nurs Midwifery Shahid Beheshti Univ Med Sci. 2008; 18(62): 35-9.

Heidari M, Karami Nejad Ranjbar M, Rezaei Far M, Rezaei Dastjerdi E. Determination of the most

prevalent reasons for requesting drugs without prescription in Kerman pharmacies. J Babol Univ Med Sci.

; 1(4): 32-7.

LozApplewhite SL. Curanderismo: demystifying the health beliefs and practices of elderly Mexican

Americans. Health Soc Work. 1995; 20(4): 247-53. PMID: 8722206.

Published

2022-03-08