Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards the Use of Over-the-Counter Medicines: An Online Survey among Bruneian Adults amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Distribution
2.2. Study Instrument
2.3. Data Collation and Analysis
2.4. Ethical Approval
3. Results
3.1. Demographic Data
3.2. Knowledge and Attitudes towards the Use of OTC Medicines
3.3. Respondents’ Practices Regarding the Use of OTC Medicines
4. Discussion
Limitations
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Variable | n (%) |
---|---|
Gender | |
Male | 80 (22.0) |
Female | 284 (78.0) |
Nationality | |
Bruneian | 353 (97.0) |
Permanent Resident | 11 (3.0) |
Level of Education * | |
Secondary education | 119 (32.7) |
Post-secondary non-Tertiary education | 59 (16.2) |
Tertiary education | 186 (51.1) |
Household Income per month ** | |
BND 900–5000 | 56 (46.7) |
BND 5001–10,000 | 53 (44.2) |
More than BND 10,000 | 11 (9.2) |
Statement | Correct | Incorrect | Do Not Know | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | (%) | n | (%) | n | (%) | |
OTC medicines are medicines you can buy without a prescription. | 314 | (86.3) | 14 | (3.8) | 36 | (9.9) |
We are allowed to use OTC medicines to improve our health. | 327 | (89.8) | 6 | (1.6) | 31 | (8.5) |
OTC medicines are used to treat, prevent or relieve major illnesses (brain and heart diseases). | 253 | (69.5) | 38 | (10.4) | 73 | (20.1) |
OTC medicines are used to treat, prevent or relieve minor illnesses (fever and mild headache). | 336 | (92.3) | 2 | (0.5) | 26 | (7.1) |
Interactions involving OTC medicines can sometimes produce unwanted results or make medicines less effective. | 247 | (67.9) | 22 | (6.0) | 95 | (26.1) |
Some OTC medicines can also interact with foods and beverages and health conditions (high blood sugar and high blood pressure). | 251 | (69.0) | 13 | (3.6) | 100 | (27.5) |
Pregnant and breast-feeding women should be extra cautious while using OTC drugs. | 317 | (87.1) | 5 | (1.4) | 42 | (11.5) |
Painkiller is an example of an OTC medicine. | 312 | (85.7) | 23 | (6.3) | 29 | (8.0) |
Paracetamol (such as Panadol) is safe and effective when used correctly, but taking too much can lead to liver damage. | 292 | (80.2) | 6 | (1.6) | 66 | (18.1) |
Statement | n | (%) |
---|---|---|
Using OTC medicines as self-medication is safe when you use them correctly. | ||
Strongly agree | 172 | (47.3) |
Agree | 136 | (37.4) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 31 | (8.5) |
Disagree | 3 | (0.8) |
Strongly disagree | 22 | (6.0) |
OTC medicines are convenient to obtain and use. | ||
Strongly agree | 161 | (44.2) |
Agree | 141 | (38.7) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 34 | (9.3) |
Disagree | 6 | (1.6) |
Strongly disagree | 22 | (6.0) |
OTC medicines can be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding but with caution unless stated on the label to avoid. | ||
Strongly agree | 63 | (17.3) |
Agree | 143 | (39.3) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 97 | (26.6) |
Disagree | 35 | (9.6) |
Strongly disagree | 26 | (7.1) |
I should take OTC medicines when I have a minor illness. | ||
Strongly agree | 55 | (15.1) |
Agree | 167 | (45.9) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 94 | (25.8) |
Disagree | 30 | (8.2) |
Strongly disagree | 18 | (4.9) |
OTC medicines are safe, but I would seek a pharmacist’s advice if I am not sure about my minor illness and which is suitable for it. | ||
Strongly agree | 168 | (46.2) |
Agree | 122 | (33.5) |
Neither agree nor disagree | 40 | (11.0) |
Disagree | 10 | (2.7) |
Strongly disagree | 24 | (6.6) |
Characteristics | Good 1 | Moderate 2 | Poor 3 | p Value | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | (%) | n | (%) | n | (%) | ||
Knowledge Score 1 | |||||||
Gender | 0.086 b | ||||||
Male | 59 | (73.8) | 12 | (15.0) | 9 | (11.3) | |
Female | 224 | (78.9) | 47 | (16.6) | 13 | (4.6) | |
Age group | 0.186 b | ||||||
Below 40 years | 231 | (79.7) | 42 | (14.5) | 17 | (5.9) | |
40 years and above | 52 | (70.3) | 17 | (23.0) | 5 | (6.8) | |
Level of Education | 0.250 b | ||||||
Secondary Education | 95 | (79.8) | 16 | (13.5) | 8 | (6.7) | |
Post-secondary Non-tertiary Education | 40 | (67.8) | 13 | (22.0) | 6 | (10.2) | |
Tertiary Education | 148 | (79.6) | 30 | (16.1) | 8 | (4.3) | |
Household Income per Month | 0.502 a | ||||||
Less than BND 5000 | 31 | (73.8) | 7 | (16.7) | 4 | (9.5) | |
BND 5000–10,000 | 54 | (80.6) | 11 | (16.4) | 2 | (3.0) | |
More than BND 10,000 | 8 | (72.7) | 3 | (27.3) | 0 | ||
Attitude Score4 | |||||||
Gender | 0.399 b | ||||||
Male | 76 | (95.0) | 4 | (5.0) | |||
Female | 262 | (92.3) | 22 | (7.8) | |||
Age group | 0.017 b* | ||||||
Below 40 years | 274 | (94.5) | 16 | (5.5) | |||
40 years and above | 64 | (86.5) | 10 | (13.5) | |||
Nationality | 0.563 a | ||||||
Bruneian | 328 | (92.9) | 25 | (7.1) | |||
Permanent Resident | 10 | (90.9) | 1 | (9.1) | |||
Level of Education | 0.030 b* | ||||||
Secondary Education | 112 | (94.1) | 7 | (5.9) | |||
Post-secondary Non-tertiary Education | 50 | (84.8) | 9 | (15.3) | |||
Tertiary Education | 176 | (94.6) | 10 | (5.4) | |||
Household Income per Month | 0.753 a | ||||||
Less than BND 5000 | 40 | (95.2) | 2 | (4.8) | |||
BND 5000–10,000 | 62 | (92.5) | 5 | (7.5) | |||
More than BND 10,000 | 10 | (90.9) | 1 | (9.1) |
Statements | n | (%) |
---|---|---|
Have you ever practiced self-medication with OTC medicine(s)? | ||
Yes | 321 | (88.2) |
No | 43 | (11.8) |
When do you usually consume OTC medicine(s)? | ||
Symptoms are minor or manageable | 183 | (50.3) |
Whenever I feel sick | 88 | (24.2) |
Whenever I cannot visit a doctor | 45 | (12.4) |
When pain or discomfort is unbearable | 8 | (2.2) |
Common reason(s) for using OTC medicines is: | ||
Time-saving | 228 | (62.6) |
Low cost | 150 | (41.2) |
Safe and well tolerable | 128 | (35.2) |
Easy accessibility (access to OTC products) | 289 | (79.4) |
Effectiveness | 3 | (0.8) |
Have you experienced adverse effects from the OTC medicine(s)? | ||
Yes | 24 | (6.6) |
No | 246 | (67.6) |
Do not know | 51 | (14.0) |
Have never self-medicated with OTC medicine | 43 | (11.8) |
Have you ever taken more than the recommended dose for the OTC medicine(s)? | ||
Yes | 22 | (6.0) |
No | 294 | (80.8) |
Do not know | 5 | (1.4) |
Have never self-medicated with OTC medicine | 43 | (11.8) |
How often do you read the instructions on the medicine’s label before use? | ||
Always | 203 | (55.8) |
Often | 63 | (17.3) |
Sometimes | 39 | (10.7) |
Rarely | 15 | (4.1) |
Never | 1 | (0.3) |
Have never self-medicated with OTC medicine | 43 | (11.8) |
How often do you check the expiry date? | ||
Always | 216 | (59.3) |
Often | 51 | (14.0) |
Sometimes | 41 | (11.3) |
Rarely | 11 | (3.0) |
Never | 2 | (0.5) |
Have never self-medicated with OTC medicine | 43 | (11.8) |
How often do you store your OTC medicine(s) in a cool, dry place or as stated on the label? | ||
Always | 218 | (59.9) |
Often | 81 | (22.3) |
Sometimes | 13 | (3.6) |
Rarely | 8 | (2.2) |
Never | 1 | (0.3) |
Have never self-medicated with OTC medicine | 43 | (11.8) |
If the OTC medicine showed a change in shape, colour, or odour, I would immediately discard the medicine. | ||
Yes | 309 | (84.9) |
No | 4 | (1.1) |
Do not know | 8 | (2.2) |
Have never self-medicated with OTC medicine | 43 | (11.8) |
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Share and Cite
Bahrin Dzulkharnain, F.B.S.; Shafqat, N.; Hermansyah, A.; Tan, C.S.; Koh, D.; Goh, K.W.; Ming, L.C. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards the Use of Over-the-Counter Medicines: An Online Survey among Bruneian Adults amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sustainability 2022, 14, 9033. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159033
Bahrin Dzulkharnain FBS, Shafqat N, Hermansyah A, Tan CS, Koh D, Goh KW, Ming LC. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards the Use of Over-the-Counter Medicines: An Online Survey among Bruneian Adults amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sustainability. 2022; 14(15):9033. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159033
Chicago/Turabian StyleBahrin Dzulkharnain, Faiqah Batrisyia Syaza, Naeem Shafqat, Andi Hermansyah, Ching Siang Tan, David Koh, Khang Wen Goh, and Long Chiau Ming. 2022. "Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards the Use of Over-the-Counter Medicines: An Online Survey among Bruneian Adults amid the COVID-19 Pandemic" Sustainability 14, no. 15: 9033. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159033