Demographic determinants of selfmedication in the population covered by health centers in Tabriz

Background: Selfmedication is the choice and use of medications by people to treat a self diagnosed illness or symptom. The aim of this study was to search the relationship between a number of sociodemographic conditions and selfmedication in the population covered by health complexes in Tabriz, Iran. Methods: This study was a crosssectional descriptiveanalytic study and was carried out on the population covered by health complexes in Tabriz. Participants were recruited by a multistage sampling method. A total of 1000 participants were included in the study. Data collection was done using a researchercreated questionnaire. Data were analyzed using chisquare test and logistic regression. Results: The incidence of selfmedication was 70.9% for participants who reported illness in the last month. The chance of selfmedication was higher in young (P=0.007) and middleaged (P=0.012) groups, and housewives (P=0.048); and was lower among participants who were not literate (P=0.047). There was no significant relationship between gender and self medication (P=0.553). The high cost of visits was mentioned as a reason for selfmedication. The most frequently mentioned drugs used in selfmedication were analgesics, cold medicines, and antibiotics, respectively. More frequent reasons for selfmedication were the previous experience of the disease, the assumption that the ailment was not important, and the high cost of visits, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of selfmedication in this study was high. Considering the results, education in the community, financial support, and monitoring the delivery of drugs can play an important role in improving the pattern of drug use.