EXPECTATIONS OF SAUDI PATIENTS FOR MEDICATIONS FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN RIYADH

BACKGROUND: Knowing patients’ expectation for medication after each consultation is of the utmost importance in designing public education programs on the rational use of drugs. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, expect drugs after each primary care consultation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A sample of 985 Saudi patients aged 15 and above was randomly selected. A cross-sectional survey was carried out at five randomly selected primary care centers, using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to patients before being seen by primary care doctors. RESULTS: Most patients (87.8%) always expect drug prescriptions. Eighty nine percent (88.9%) had been prescribed drugs in the previous consultation. Sixty six percent (66%) had received 2-3 drugs during their previous consultation. The majority thought it was too much. Seventy percent (70%) took all their prescribed drugs. Patients with intermediate and high school education had the highest compliance rate (32%). Twenty two percent (22%) thought it was always necessary to use a drug for an illness. The level of education of the majority of patients ranged from illiterate to various levels of pre-university education. CONCLUSION: Most Saudi patients expect drugs. General and specific health education should be given to both patients and doctors.