Self-medication patterns in Amman, Jordan

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Public Health
• Medication Adherence and Access

Background:

• Jordan's classification of medicines into Prescription-Only-Medicine (POM) and Over-The-Counter (OTC) is not strictly enforced in community pharmacies.
• This lack of enforcement allows public access to a wider range of medications, potentially impacting pharmacotherapy safety and effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish baseline data on the extent of self-medication among the Jordanian population.
• To identify factors associated with self-medication practices in Jordan.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 155 community pharmacies in Amman.
• Over 800 customers were interviewed over four months using a pre-piloted questionnaire to record non-prescription drug requests and justifications.

Main Results:

• Self-medication was common, with a prevalence of 42.5% among Jordanians.
• Younger (under 16) and older (over 60) individuals were less likely to self-medicate.
• Primary reasons for self-medication included minor ailments, long doctor wait times, and avoiding consultation costs. Medication choices were influenced by pharmacy staff, friends, previous experiences, and informal health advice.

Conclusions:

• Self-medication is a widespread practice in Jordan, driven by increasing familiarity with drug brands.
• Socio-economic factors significantly influence self-medication behaviors.
• There is a low rate of therapeutic consultation with pharmacy personnel among patients practicing self-medication.