Self-medication practices among diabetic patients in Kuwait
Abdelmoneim Awad1, Shahd Al-Rabiy, Eman Abahussain
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Centre, Kuwait University, Kuwait. amoneim@hsc.edu.kw
Summary
Self-medication with medicines or herbs is low among diabetic patients in Kuwait. Strict prescription policies and health insurance coverage likely contribute to this finding, promoting medical consultation for illness management.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Self-medication, including the use of proprietary medicines and herbs, is a common practice globally.
- Understanding self-medication prevalence in specific patient populations, such as those with diabetes, is crucial for public health initiatives.
- Factors influencing self-medication behaviors can vary significantly across different socioeconomic and healthcare system contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of self-medication with proprietary medicines and/or herbs among diabetic patients.
- To identify factors associated with self-medication practices in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 104 diabetic patients randomly selected from eight diabetic clinics across three governorates.
- Data collection was performed through face-to-face structured interviews using a developed and piloted questionnaire.
Main Results:
- The study achieved a high response rate of 96.2%.
- Only 13% of diabetic patients reported self-medicating with medicines or herbs within the two months preceding the study.
- Nine percent used herbs for diabetes management, while 2% used herbs for other conditions; 2% used non-prescription medicines.
- No significant association was found between self-medication and sociodemographic characteristics (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of self-medication, encompassing both conventional medicines and herbal remedies, is low among diabetic patients in Kuwait.
- Strict prescription policies and comprehensive health insurance coverage for medical consultations and treatments are potential contributing factors to the observed low rates of self-medication.
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