Drug knowledge of expatriate adolescents in the United Arab Emirates and their attitudes towards self-medication
-
Syed Ilyas Shehnaz
,
Nelofer Khan
Abstract
Background: Adolescents have limited knowledge about medicines and their potential adverse effects. In this context, we aimed to investigate the basic knowledge of medicines, any differences in knowledge related to practice of self-medication (SM), attitudes towards SM and sources of information about medicines among expatriate adolescents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 324 students from four schools in the UAE using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 19.
Results: The sample of multi-ethnic students, with ages ranging from 14 to 19 years, was almost equally distributed between the genders. A total of 289 students reported to be self-medicating. More than 60% of adolescents had responded incorrectly to eight questions related to knowledge about medicines. There were no significant differences between mean scores for drug knowledge (maximum score=22) of self-medicating adolescents (12.1±4.32; SMAs) and those not practicing SM (12±4.53; NSMAs). Self-assessment of drug knowledge was perceived as good by 33% and satisfactory by 34% of SMAs. The majority of adolescents (87%) believed that SM was acceptable and reported being aware of its advantages and disadvantages. Parents and pharmacists were common sources of information about medicines.
Conclusion: The participants showed a positive inclination towards SM. The SMAs and NSMAs had similar knowledge about medicines. However, gaps in knowledge may lead to drug misuse and toxicity. Healthcare providers, pharmacists, educators and parents should be actively involved in health education strategies for rational use of medicines among adolescents in the UAE.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Dr. Anoop K. Agarwal and Dr. Gamini Premadasa for their help in editing this article.
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© 2014 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Healthy eating and physical activity
- Reviews
- A comprehensive review of mental health gatekeeper-trainings for adolescents and young adults
- A conceptual framework for early adolescence: a platform for research
- Original Articles
- Body image satisfaction and self-esteem in Thai female adolescents: the moderating role of self-compassion
- Iranian university students’ perceived reproductive health needs
- An exploration of adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury and religious coping
- Adolescents’ view of health concept and its risk factors: a literature review
- Suicide attempts and suicides in Bolivia from 2007 to 2012: pesticides are the preferred method – females try but males commit suicide!
- Predictive factors and psychosocial effects of Internet addictive behaviors in Cypriot adolescents
- Nutrition, lifestyle factors, and mental health in adolescents and young adults living in Austria
- University students’ point of views to facilitators and barriers to sexual and reproductive health services
- The context of alcohol consumption among adolescents and their families
- Determinants of condom use at sexual debut among young Vietnamese
- Associations between sleep disturbance and suicidal ideation in adolescents admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit
- Body size preferences among young women in five Arab countries: a cross-cultural study
- Drug knowledge of expatriate adolescents in the United Arab Emirates and their attitudes towards self-medication
- Perspectives of clinical medical directors in child and adolescent psychiatry: diagnostic and treatment needs of migrant families
- Factors associated with physical inactivity among female and male rural adolescents in Borneo – a cross-sectional study
- Book Review
- Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel J. Siegel M.D
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Healthy eating and physical activity
- Reviews
- A comprehensive review of mental health gatekeeper-trainings for adolescents and young adults
- A conceptual framework for early adolescence: a platform for research
- Original Articles
- Body image satisfaction and self-esteem in Thai female adolescents: the moderating role of self-compassion
- Iranian university students’ perceived reproductive health needs
- An exploration of adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury and religious coping
- Adolescents’ view of health concept and its risk factors: a literature review
- Suicide attempts and suicides in Bolivia from 2007 to 2012: pesticides are the preferred method – females try but males commit suicide!
- Predictive factors and psychosocial effects of Internet addictive behaviors in Cypriot adolescents
- Nutrition, lifestyle factors, and mental health in adolescents and young adults living in Austria
- University students’ point of views to facilitators and barriers to sexual and reproductive health services
- The context of alcohol consumption among adolescents and their families
- Determinants of condom use at sexual debut among young Vietnamese
- Associations between sleep disturbance and suicidal ideation in adolescents admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit
- Body size preferences among young women in five Arab countries: a cross-cultural study
- Drug knowledge of expatriate adolescents in the United Arab Emirates and their attitudes towards self-medication
- Perspectives of clinical medical directors in child and adolescent psychiatry: diagnostic and treatment needs of migrant families
- Factors associated with physical inactivity among female and male rural adolescents in Borneo – a cross-sectional study
- Book Review
- Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel J. Siegel M.D
