Dermatology Self-Medication in Nursing Students and Professionals: A Multicentre Study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Public Health
• Nursing Education

Background:

• Self-medication is prevalent among healthcare professionals, despite awareness of associated risks.
• Limited research exists on self-medication within dermatology, particularly among nurses and nursing students.
• Nurses and students face potential mucocutaneous health issues, making self-medication practices a concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of self-medication for dermatological conditions among nurses and nursing students.
• To investigate the influence of age and professional/academic experience on self-medication behaviors.
• To assess the tendency of nurses and students to recommend dermatological treatments to others.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre cross-sectional study conducted in 2021.
• Involved 423 participants: 120 nurses and 303 nursing students from Northwest Spain.
• Utilized an ad hoc questionnaire to assess self-medication decision-making.

Main Results:

• 58.39% of participants reported self-medication for dermatological diseases.
• Nurses showed a higher prevalence of medication use without a prescription compared to students (p < 0.001).
• Increased professional experience in nurses (p = 0.01) and older age in students (p < 0.001) correlated with higher self-medication rates.

Conclusions:

• The high prevalence of self-medication and treatment recommendations among nurses and students is a significant concern.
• Identifying factors associated with self-medication is crucial for developing targeted educational and preventive strategies.
• Further research and evidence-based interventions are needed to address these practices in nursing populations.