Over-the-Counter Medicine Attitudes and Knowledge among University and College Students in Brunei Darussalam: Findings from the First National Survey

Ishpa Shapiah Abdullah, Li Ling Chaw, David Koh, Zahid Hussain, Khang Wen Goh, Asma A’tiyah Abdul Hamid and Long Chiau Ming
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Ishpa Shapiah Abdullah: PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
Li Ling Chaw: PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
David Koh: PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
Zahid Hussain: Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia
Khang Wen Goh: Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai 71800, Malaysia
Asma A’tiyah Abdul Hamid: Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health, Bandar Seri Begawan BE3119, Brunei
Long Chiau Ming: PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: Over-the-counter (OTC) medicine is defined as safe and effective for the general public to use, without seeking therapy from a health professional. As primary social media and internet users, university and college students are more likely to be exposed to unverified sources of health information. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour of students at institutions of higher learning in Brunei with regard to the safe use of OTC medicines. A cross-sectional study was performed using a self-administered online questionnaire, adapted from the literature with additional information from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the educational resources in understanding OTC medicine for consumers. The questionnaire consisted of 4 sections: demographic information, knowledge of OTC medicines, attitudes, and practice. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. A total of 335 students returned a completed questionnaire. The students had a mean knowledge score of 7.1 out of 9, with more than half (53.4%) having good knowledge (knowledge score > 7), and only a small percentage (5.7%) with poor knowledge. Almost all of the students (99.7%) had a positive attitude toward OTC medicine use. Few of the students practiced improper habits in terms of OTC medicine use, such as not reading the instructions or taking more than the recommended dose. Awareness of proper OTC medicine use among students in institutions of higher learning is necessary to prevent the rise of inappropriate user practices.

Keywords: over-the-counter (OTC); cross-sectional survey; safe use; knowledge; attitude; practice; behaviour; habit; Brunei (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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