Self-Medication Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among the Adult Population in the Eastern Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Self-medication is vital to public health because it has an impact on people's health and the current healthcare system, both positively and negatively. During public health catastrophes like the COVID-19 disease, this is particularly true. Aim: This study aimed to examine the behavioral response of the community with regard to self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic in the eastern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: During the COVID-19 outbreak from March to September 2020, a cross-sectional online survey of 398 participants using structured questionnaires was conducted to observe knowledge, prevalence, patterns, and sources of self-medication among the respondents in the eastern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Results: The percentage of respondents who had heard about self-medication was 50.5%, and those who practiced self-medication during COVID-19 were 43.7% of the respondents. Regarding knowledge, 60.3% had a low overall knowledge level versus 39.7% who had a high knowledge level. Most of those who practiced self-medication took medication based on their own decision (34.4%). The most frequently used drugs during the outbreak were analgesics (43.5%) and vitamins (24.9%). Only 1% of participants reported using anti-malaria drugs (hydroxychloroquine). The most common reasons for self-medication practices were having a mild illness (30.4%), followed by fear of infection (26.6%). The symptoms for which the respondents took self-medication were headache (29.6%), cough (26.6%), and fever (24.6%). Conclusion: Our investigation showed a low level of knowledge about self-medication and a considerable level of self-medication practices. Therefore, self-medication may be minimized with ongoing awareness raising and sensitization.