Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding the Self-Use of Pain Medications in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the knowledge and attitudes of the population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the use of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study used an electronic survey questionnaire comprising 18 questions. An electronic survey was distributed through social networking sites during the period from November 1 to November 15, 2014, followed by data analysis. RESULTS: Data from 1808 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. The results showed that 61% of the participants used analgesics without prescription; 67% used analgesics only for severe pain; 72% stated that analgesics could be administered with other medications; 68% reported that analgesics had an antipyretic effect; and only 1% reported that they had an anti-inflammatory effect. Further, 80% of the participants had the habit of reading drug product information and 77% were careful about the expiry date. CONCLUSIONS: The general population showed inadequate knowledge and attitudes toward OTC analgesics. Therefore, more programs to increase awareness and health education among patients are needed.