Self-Medication and Contributing Factors: A Questionnaire Survey Among Iranian Households

  • Mohammad Ranjbar Ezzatabadi Ph.D. in Health Policy, Health Policy Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
  • Sima Rafiei Ph.D. in Healthcare Management, Health Services Management Department, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
  • Milad Shafiei Ph.D. in Healthcare Management, hospital management research center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
  • Arefeh Dehghani Tafti MS. C in Biostatistics, Biostatistics Department, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
  • Fatemeh Saghafi MS. C in Healthcare Management, Health Services Management Department, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
  • Mohammad Amin Bahrami Ph.D. in Health Care Management, hospital management research center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
  • Nadia Abdarzadeh MS. C in Healthcare Management, Health Services Management Department, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is a serious danger in every health sector which potentially brings harmful side effects for the society. The aim of this research was to investigate self-medication and its contributing factors among residents of Yazd province in Iran in 2014. Methods: A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted in 2014 using a self-constructed questionnaire. A total of 580 families living in Yazd in the time period of study were contributed to fill out the questions organized in two sections of demographic and self-medication factors. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16 through appropriate descriptive and analytical statistical tests. Results: Self-medication was reported in 53.4% of the cases. The most frequent self-prescribed medications were related to pain killer drugs (26.6%). There was a significant statistical relation between self-medication and households’ age, occupation and income, level of parents’ education, number of children and place of residence. Among different reasons for self-medication the most important one was reported to be accessibility (3.44+1.3). Conclusion: Due to the considerable prevalence of self-medication and its harmful effects on every society, such an issue should be appropriately controlled through legal regulations particularly in the area of selling dangerous drugs. Furthermore, provision of proper information and warning the population about harmful side effects can be helpful in this regard.

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Author Biographies

Mohammad Ranjbar Ezzatabadi, Ph.D. in Health Policy, Health Policy Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Ph.D. in Health Policy, Health Policy Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Sima Rafiei, Ph.D. in Healthcare Management, Health Services Management Department, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Ph.D. in Healthcare Management, Health Services Management Department, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Milad Shafiei, Ph.D. in Healthcare Management, hospital management research center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Ph.D. in Healthcare Management, hospital management research center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Arefeh Dehghani Tafti, MS. C in Biostatistics, Biostatistics Department, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
MS. C in Biostatistics, Biostatistics Department, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Fatemeh Saghafi, MS. C in Healthcare Management, Health Services Management Department, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
MS. C in Healthcare Management, Health Services Management Department, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Mohammad Amin Bahrami, Ph.D. in Health Care Management, hospital management research center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Ph.D. in Health Care Management, hospital management research center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Nadia Abdarzadeh, MS. C in Healthcare Management, Health Services Management Department, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
MS. C in Healthcare Management, Health Services Management Department, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Published
2016-08-31
How to Cite
EZZATABADI, Mohammad Ranjbar et al. Self-Medication and Contributing Factors: A Questionnaire Survey Among Iranian Households. BALI MEDICAL JOURNAL, [S.l.], v. 5, n. 3, aug. 2016. ISSN 2302-2914. Available at: <http://ojs.unud.ac.id/index.php/bmj/article/view/23939>. Date accessed: 22 aug. 2025.
Citation Formats
Issue
Vol 5 No 3 (2016)
Section
Articles

Keywords

Self-medication, contributing factor, prevalence.
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