Identifying Risk Factors for Incautious Use of Non-Prescription Drugs Among Higher Education Institutions' Students in Emirates

Objective: The aim of this research is to identify risk factors for incautious use of oral non-prescription drugs (ONPD) and inform recommendations that promote cautious ONPD use among HEI students in the UAE. Methods: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted with 2875 students in three randomly selected UAE universities between January and April 2014. Results: More than half (1348; 57) of participants reported using of ONPD in the past 90 days before study commencement. Of 1348 participants reported using ONPD, one-quarter (1348; 22.2) of ONPD was classified as incautious ONPD usage. Analgesic/antipyretic (84.9), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (1028; 76.3), and cough and cold drugs (562; 41.7) were reported by the majority of participants as the most commonly used ONPD. 10 risk factors were identified for incautious ONPD use. Participants with age group of 21 years and older (OR=0.554, 95; CI=0.373-0.823; p<0.001), female (OR=0.339, 95; CI=0.236-0.486; p<0.001), and students from medical schools (OR=0.619, 95; CI=0.435-0.882; p=0.008) had lower odds of being incautious users compared to lower age group, males, and students from non-medical schools. Furthermore, participants with a polypharmacy behavior had higher odds of being irresponsible ONPD user than monopharmacy users (OR=1.400, 95; CI=1.030- 1.02; p<0.001). Conclusion: One of five students is an incautious ONPD user. There is a need for an educational and behavioral intervention to motivate students to be cautious users. © 2017 The Authors

What Drives Using Antibiotic without Prescriptions? A Qualitative Interview Study of University Students in United Arab Emirates

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is considered as natural phenomenon that occurs over the time due to genetic changes. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is significantly increasing in the UAE. Self-medication with antibiotics has been identified as a major factor for the development of antibiotic resistance, which is significantly increasing in the UAE.The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that contribute to the use of antibiotics without prescriptions among first year healthcare university students in UAE.Based on the findings of an earlier survey study, a qualitative interview study was designed to explore common themes related to student's knowledge, awareness, attitude, views, and perceptions. Data were analyzed thematically for the identification of themes and subthemes within the data through the use of coding.The interview study identified four main themes with multiple subthemes related to the use of antibiotics without a physician's prescription by first-year healthcare students. The thematic analysis of the interviews revealed four main themes; medication habits and practices; reasons for self-medication; access to antibiotics without a prescription and gaps in students' knowledge regarding antibiotic resistance.Healthcare students in UAE are influenced by several factors including parents and friends influence, successful previous experience and investment of time and money to visit a physician. Our sample of healthcare students has a misconception about the use of antibiotics. The current interview study identified six new reasons for using antibiotics without prescriptions as compared to our earlier survey study. There is a need of multifaceted strategies to decrease unnecessary antibiotic use in our population sample

What drives intentional overdose with non-prescription drugs? A cross-sectional study

Background Use of overdosage of Non-Prescription Drugs (NPD) among university students is a serious public health issue. However, there are no extensive studies that measured the prevalence of taking more than the recommended dose of NPD and/or identified the risk associated with this behavior among university students. Objectives This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence and associated risks of self-overdosage with NPDs in university students in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted from January to April 2014, among 2875 students in three randomly selected universities. A structured and validated questionnaire was used to collect the responses of the students. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data. Results Out of 2875 students, only 2355 surveys were fully answered, returned back and included in the present study. Of 2355, more than half (1348; 57.2%) the participants reported using Oral NPD (ONPD) in the past 90 days before conducting the study and were asked to complete the survey. Only 290 (22%) of a total 1348 participants reported taking more than the recommended dose of ONPD in the previous three months before conducting the study. Analgesic/antipyretic (223, 16.5%) and anti-allergic (67, 4.9%) drugs were more than other classes of the ONPD, reported to be taken in a dose, more than the recommended dosage. The most common justifications for taking more than the recommended dose of ONPD among respondents were severe symptoms (6%), the belief that the recommended dose would not be sufficient to relieve the symptom (5%), the belief that a stronger dose would relieve the symptoms faster (11%), and previous experience (4%). Our results identified three risk factors for taking more than the recommended dose of NPD. High frequently drug-users of daily use (OR = 3.494, 95% CI: 1.677–7.279) (P < 0.001), and students from non-medical colleges had higher odds of taking more than the recommended dosage as compared to students from medical colleges (OR = 1.486, 95% CI: 1.060–2.085, P-value < 0.05). Furthermore\re, participants with a poly-pharmacy behavior had higher odds of taking overdosage of ONPD than single NPD users (OR = 1.918, 95% CI: 1.440–2.555) (P < 0.001). Conclusion There are a sizable proportion of university students that use overdosage of NPD, but it is more serious issue when it comes to non-medical student. There is a need for educational programs designed to increase awareness among all university students and to motivate them not to use overdosage of NPD. Further studies are also required to investigate additional explanatory variables that could influence the practice of overdosage with NPD

Appropriateness Assessment and Identifying the Risk Factors of Oral Non-prescription Drugs Use Among University Students in the United Arab Emirates

Irrational use of drugs has a serious impact on health and the economy. The use of oral non-prescription drugs is increasing among university students worldwide. The objective of the present study is to measure the prevalence of use of oral-non-prescription drugs, assess appropriateness of this use, and identify factors associated with inappropriate use among students. A cross- sectional study used anonymous self-administered questionnaire over the period of four months (January, 2014 to April, 2014). More than half (1348; 57%) of participants reported the use of ONPD in the past 90 days before study commencement. Of 1,348, participants reported using ONPD; only 8% were inappropriate ONPD users for self-treating the last recent symptom. The present study identified three newly reported risk factors for the outcome. Polypharmacy behaviour was a significant predictor variable (OR = 2.457, 95% CI: 1.380-4.373, p=0.002), safety belief in the use of ONPD (OR= 1.702, 95% CI: 1.070-2.709, p≤0.05) and medication knowledge (OR= 0.608, 95% CI: 0.380-0.972, p≤0.05). There is high prevalence of ONPD use among university students in UAE. However, the majority of this use was found to be appropriate. To promote healthy ONPD use in university students, awareness campaign is needed in all universities and must stress on the potential dangers of drug addict, drug abuse and polypharmacy behavior