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| Authors | R Darmanin Ellul M Cordina A G Fenech A Amato Gauci A Buhagiar J Mifsud |
| Abstract | Aims: Research on adolescents has mainly focused on the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs but little has been done to investigate medicine use among this age group. The aim of this study was to investigate self-reported medicine use among adolescents. Method: A self-administered questionnaire was used to survey medicine use by fourth-form Junior Lyceum students. Data were collected among 474 boys and girls of average age 15 years who were selected by stratified random sampling. The questionnaire investigated the prevalence of selfreported symptoms and medicine use during the previous 3 months for ear problems, hay fever and cough and cold; gastrointestinal problems; headache; and menstrual pain. Students also gave information on their use of eye drops, vitamins, topical skin medication, painkillers for sport injuries and antibiotics. Results: A total of 52.0% of students experienced 3 or more symptoms and a total of 90.3% took between 1 to 9 different medicines during the previous 3 months. Statistically, girls used a significantly greater number of different medicines than boys (p < 0.01). The pharmacy was the most common source for obtaining medicines in the majority of responses (26.8%-76.9%). Of concern is that, 24.5% of the students reported that they had taken medicines without adult guidance. Conclusion: A high proportion of 15 year-old adolescents reported medicine use in relation to common health complaints. A considerable proportion took medicine without any adult guidance. It is suggested that more information about medicines be built into school health education programs in the future. |
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| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 1-2/suppl. 2003 |
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| Key words | adolescent, consumption, health complaint, medicines |