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Background: Ophthalmic self-medication involves individuals selecting and using medicines to treat self-recognized illnesses without consulting a healthcare provider. This practice raises safety concerns due to potential ocular complications. Identifying the magnitude of ophthalmic self-medication practices and associated factors is crucial for early detection, prevention, and successful management of this practice.
Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the magnitude of ophthalmic self- medication and associated factors among ophthalmic patients attending Menelik II comprehensive specialized referral hospital, 2024.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Menelik II comprehensive specialized hospital eye center, involving 545 consecutive study participants who were interviewed prospectively using a structured questionnaire in a face-to-face manner. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS, version 26. Descriptive statistics like measurements of central tendency ± standard deviation (SD) for continuous variables, graphs, and percentages for categorical variables were computed. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was employed to identify independent predictors of ophthalmic self-medication. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The prevalence of ophthalmic self-medication was 24.6% (95% CI: 21.3, 28.2). Individuals with a previous history of ocular illness, specifically those diseased three times, had an AOR of 2.57 (95% CI: 1.35, 4.88); those diseased more than three times had an AOR of 5.83 (95% CI: 3.03, 11.23); poor awareness (AOR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.95); and poor knowledge (AOR: 3.14, 95% CI: 1.95, 5.05), were found to be significantly associated with ophthalmic self-medication practice.
Conclusion and recommendation: This study found that nearly one-fourth of study participants had practiced ophthalmic self-medication. Improving patient awareness and knowledge about the potential side effects and adverse consequences of such practices is important, along with implementing regulatory actions against the dispensing of ophthalmic medications without a prescription
............. Thesis available at ACIPH Library |
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