SELF MEDICATION: IT’S EFFECT TO THE HEALTH STATUS IN THE RESIDENTS OF THE BRGY STO.ANGEL NORTE

STA, CRUZ, LAGUNA

A Research PaperPresented to the

Faculty of the College of NursingLaguna State Polytechnic University

Main CampusSta. Cruz, Laguna

In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

MS. NERGELYN CARDOZA GAUNA2012

Chapter 1

PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUD

Introduction

Medicines are certainly meant to provide relief from ailments but their

indiscriminate use can lead to serious health problems, nowadays everybody

demands for fast result. When it comes to health problems or simple physical

discomfort, we pop that pill without thinking its side effect.

Self-medication is a term used to describe the use of drugs (including

alcohol) or other self-soothing forms of behavior to treat untreated and often

undiagnosed mental distress, stress and anxiety, including mental illnesses

and/or psychological trauma.

Self-medication is also a form of self-care, and a critical one. Products

to be used for such purposes can be defined as those “the average consumer

can use to treat minor, self-limiting illnesses without the intervention of a

prescribing, dispensing or monitoring health professional with relative

assurance of its safety and effectiveness.” Medications of this type are usually

known as non-prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) products.

Background of the Study It has been said that self medications is always dangerous. One might

be tempted to take too much of something that may be alright in smaller

doses. It is much wiser to seek proper medical counsel. The free use of the

drugs is the cause of much ill health today. Many of these drugs interfere with

the normal physiology of the body, bringing in condition that is far worse than

they were intended to relieve. Nothing is less conductive to health than to be

always swallowing a pill of one sort or another. Some families are in a habit of

taking some kinds of medicines from early childhood that they keep on taking

until now.

The researcher was stimulated to study self medications to find out

what will be the effects of using Over the Counter medicines in the health

status among the residents of Brgy Sto. Angel Norte Sta. Cruz, Laguna. She

was stimulated to pursue this investigation because of what she observed in

her locality Brgy since majority of the resident are taking over the counter

medications. The researcher wanted to know what will be the advantages and

disadvantages of self medications in the person using it. The researcher

believes that through this study they could impart knowledge and help other

people to understand about taking over the counter medications.

Theoretical Framework

Duncans Model of Drug Dependence as Self-Medication. The

distinction between drug use and drug abuse is critical to Duncan’s model. He

asserts that most of the people who take illegal drugs do not meet criteria for

substance abuse, let alone for dependence. The great majority exercise

control and restraint over their drug use and suffer no harm from using. His

model is concerned with describing why a minority (10-20%) of those who

take drugs non-medically do lose control over their use and expose

themselves to serious social, interpersonal and medical risks. He and Dr.

Robert S. Gold have also explored the implications of his model for the

primary prevention of drug abuse (Duncan & Gold, 1982 & 1983) and the

tertiary prevention of the destructive consequences of drug abuse.

Psychological dependence "refers to the experience of impaired control

over drug use" while "physical dependence involves the development of

tolerance and withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of use of the drug, as a

consequence of the body's adaptation to the continued presence of a drug"

(UNIDCP, 1998). In Duncans view, physical dependence is a lesser problem

which occurs in addiction to some drugs, such as alcohol and opiates, but not

in addiction to cocaine, heroin, etc., nor in non-drug addictions such as

compulsive gambling.

Duncan essentially argues that drug dependence is just another name for

avoidance or escape behavior when the operant behavior being reinforced is

drug taking. Drug addicts, in his view, have found a drug which provided them

with temporary escape from an ongoing state of emotional distress which

might be due to a mental disorder, to stress, or to an aversive environment.

Non-drug addictions, in his opinion, represent similar negatively reinforced

behavior. Duncan asserts that the characteristics of dependence are all

typical of operant behaviors maintained by negative reinforcement. Negative

reinforcement maintains high rates of behavior. Animals that have been

negatively reinforced for performing a task such as pressing a bar will often

do so to the exclusion of eating, sleeping, sexual activity, etc. Avoidance

behaviors are highly resistant to extinction and even when they appear to

have been eliminated they tend to recur spontaneously. Thus the intensity,

compulsiveness and proneness to relapse that characterize drug dependence

all result, in Duncan’s opinion, from the fact that the behavior is maintained by

negative reinforcement.

Conceptual framework

The researcher conceptualized that the independent variables are the

factors contribute to self medication and the dependent variable are the

reason for the independent variables.

The conceptual framework is illustrated in the form of paradigm below.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES DEPENDENT VARIABLE

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE:

Age Gender Economic status Educational

Attainment

COMPLIANCE TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE

FRAME 1 FRAME 2

The paradigm illustrates the conceptual framework of the study in the

effects in the health status of the people using over the counter medicines.

Frame 1- Consist of the independent variables which include the common

and possible factors that contribute to self medication.

Frame 2- Consist of the dependent variables consist of what the researcher

wants to find out, on how the independent variables contribute to the

dependent variable.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to determine the effects of self medication in the health

status among the residents of Brgy Sto. Angel Norte Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Specifically the study sought to answer the following questions:

1) What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:

1.1 Age;

1.2 Gender;

1.3 Economic status;

1.4 Educational Attainment?

2) What are the common factors that contribute to self medications?

3) Effects of self medication in the health status of the respondents in

terms of:

1.1 Age;

1.2 Gender;

1.3 Economic status;

1.4 Educational Attainment?

4) Is there a significant effect of self medications in the health status of the

respondents?

Hypothesis

There is a significant effect of self medications in the health status of the

respondents.

Significance of the Study

The study which aimed to provide data on how each individual understands

the possible effects of self medications in their health status.

Respondents.

The researcher hopes that this study will help the people who are using over

the counter medicines understand the importance of health in each individual,

and have information and ideas about the medicines that they take.

Nursing Students.

The researcher hopes that the study will help nursing students to understand

and gain knowledge about self medications.

Future Researchers.

This research will give additional information for those who will conduct

another study about the effects in the health status in self medication.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study is composed of 50-60 respondents/persons taking an Over

the counter medicines. They are randomly chosen in Brgy Sto. Angel Norte

Sta. Cruz, Laguna. The target populations in the study are the person who is

taking OTC medicines.

The research will focus on the effects of self medication in the health

status of the person. In accordance to the study, the researcher has set

criteria is selecting and delegating the respondents: (1) should be residents in

Brgy Sto. Angel Norte Sta. Cruz, Laguna. The age of 18 and below or 60 and

above are not included for the researcher considers the capacity of individual

to answer the questionnaires; (2) a person who are using OTC

medicines ,and all of them have different reasons in using OTC medicines.

Definition of terms

Generally, the terms used in the study pertain to their popular

connotations but there are a few terms which need clarification. There are

defined in the context of their use in the study:

Self medications – People who are taking medication on its own decision.

Effects - Result of taking medicines.

Health status – Condition of the people using over the counter medications

Over the counter drugs - Medicines that are sold directly without the

doctor’s prescription.

Prescription- It is medicines that are safe when used under a doctor’s care.

Health- Is a complete physical, emotional, spiritual well-being of a person.

Medicine – Person used to treat diseases.

Gender – It is sexual category of the person.

Economic status – It is a financial condition of the people.

Educational Attainment – It is a person level of learning.

Compliance- Act of obedience of following to a certain law or regulation of an

institution.

Chapter 2

RELATED LITERATUE AND RELATED STUDIES

Review of Literature and studies are presented in this section. They are

taken from the different references such as books, journals, and other

unpublished materials.

Related Literature

Age

Teens are abusing some over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, such as cough

and cold remedies, to get high. Many of these products are widely available

and can be purchased at supermarkets, drugstores, and convenience stores.

Many OTC drugs that are intended to treat headaches, sinus pressure, or

cold/flu symptoms contain the active ingredient dextromethorphan (DXM) and

are the ones that teens are using to get high.

When taken in high doses, DXM can produce a "high" feeling and can be

extremely dangerous in excessive amounts.

Up to one out of every five teenagers or 20 percent has abused

prescription or over-the-counter drugs, according to research conducted by

the organization Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The organization says

that one in 10 teens have abused these drugs within the past year, with

another (8/4/2009).

Children average six to eight colds a year (Simasek & Blandino, 2007).

There are more than 100 different viruses that cause this self- limiting illness,

is also known as acute upper respiratory infection (URI; Kelly, 2004). Viruses

that result in the common cold spread rapidly in children, who may occur

because children do not wash their hands as frequently as adults; they share

toys; and are more intimate with one another during casual interactions than

are adults (Kelly, 2004). The average cold can last 10 to 14 days with cough,

rhinorrhea (runny nose), and nasal congestion among the most bothersome

symptoms reported (Gunn, Taha, Liebelt, & Serwint, 2001). The risk of

overdose, incorrect dosing, and average drug events is increased in young

children due to the number of colds they acquire each year, their small body

size, and parents lack of clarity of the active ingredient in OTC medications,

Particularly those with multiple ingredients (Markel, 2007).

Gender

New research shows that long-term use of acetaminophen, sold under

the brand name Tylenol -harms kidneys. This research was conducted on

1,700 women, and spanned 11 years. Overall, it showed that 10% of the

women experienced a decline in their kidney function (7/27/2004).

Economic Status

Related Studies

Age

The current study tested the hypotheses that adolescents with greater

conduct problems are more likely to self-medicate, as evidenced by a greater

risk for drinking on days subsequent to high negative mood, and to show

negative mood-related drinking consequences. (Brown, 2004).

Seventy-six respondents (54%) were aged between 20 to 39 years. The

majority of he respondents (72 %) stayed within 30 minutes walking distance

of a health post medical store. 59% of these respondents had taken some

form of self-medication in the 6-month period preceding the study. The

common reasons given for self-medication were mild illness, previous

experience of treating a similar illness, and non-availability of health

personnel. 70% of respondents were prescribed allopathic drugs by a non-

allopathic doctor.

Gender

The compounder and health assistant were common sources of

medicines. Paracetamol and antimicrobials were the drugs most commonly

prescribed. A significantly higher proportion of young (<40 years) male

respondents had used self-medication than other groups. More male patients

used self medication compared to females, contrary to data from western

reports.

Economic Status

In economically deprived communities, most episodes of illnesses are

treated by self-medication. Due to the hilly terrain in Nepal, the poor

socioeconomic status, the high cost of modern medicines and non-availability

of doctors in rural areas, difficulties arise in accessing modern healthcare.

In India, another south Asian country with economic and cultural

similarities to Nepal, pharmacists and pharmacy attendants play an important

role in fostering self-medication among the public. Combination preparations

containing 'hidden' classes of drugs and food supplements or tonics of

doubtful value were commonly used in India.

Studies on self-medication patterns and the prevalence of non-doctor

prescribing in the Pokhara valley are lacking. Over the last two years in our

hospital, we have been seeing an increasing number of patients developing

resistance to the commonly used antibiotics.

Hence the present study was carried out in the first fortnight of August

2001 in Pokhara sub-metropolitan city and the surrounding villages, where a

high prevalence of self and non-doctor prescribing was observed in the

subject population.

Educational Attainment

The better socioeconomic status of men in Nepal, their better earning power,

and the higher educational level are probably among the reasons. However,

this is difficult to reconcile with the fact that economic reasons were

commonly cited for self-medication. The greater prevalence of self medication

among the younger generation can be due to the better educational level

(2002 Shankar).

Chapter 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presented the research design, population and sampling,

research procedure, research instrument to be used in gathering data and

statistical treatment of data.

Research Design

The researcher used the descriptive method where in copies of a written

questionnaire is the form of checklist is the main instrument they were given

to the respondents in order to gather pertinent data from them regarding their

reason for using over the counter medicines and the perceived effectiveness

and dangers of using it.

Population and Sampling Techniques

The researcher uses the purposive random sampling in which the

researcher asked first the respondents if they where using over the counter

medicines before giving questionnaire. Purposive sampling technique was

used to identify the total number of respondents. The respondents were

composed of 50- 60 selected residents in the Brgy. Sto Angel Norte Sta.

Cruz, Laguna.

Research Procedure

The researcher first identified the problem of the study. The researcher

gathered and reviewed the applicable theories and relevant literatures and

studies from books, thesis, journal, and electronic publications which are

related to this study. The data and information were analyzed and

summarized. The researcher\’s next step is the formulation of the

questionnaire. Then the researcher went ask to the Brgy Captain of the Brgy

Sto. Angel Norte which was the site of the study. The questionnaires were

handed out personally and the respondents were requested to answer the

questions on the spot. Questionnaires were collected as soon as possible.

Other records and documents were requested from the office of Brgy

Sto. Angel Norte, Sta. Cruz, Laguna and Brgy Health Center.

Research Instruments

Instrument used in the study are the questionnaire given by the researcher

to the respondents. Questionnaire is the most common type of research

instrument. A letter requesting permission to conduct the study was submitted

to the office of the Dean of the College of Nursing of the Laguna State

Polytechnic University Sta. Cruz, Main Campus for the approval and a letter

request was given to the Brgy Captain of Brgy Sto. Angel Norte asks

permission for conducting the study. The questionnaires were distributed to

the selected residents of the Brgy which is involved in the study. The

researcher personally retrieved the questionnaires from the respondents.

Statistical Treatment

To determine the reason of the respondents in using over the counter

medicines in the Brgy. Sto Angel Norte Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Percentage of

frequency was computed.

Percentage= frequency Total no. of respondents

To determine the effects of self medication in the health status of the

respondents.

Total weighted mean was computed:

TWM= TWS TF

Where:

TWM – total weighted mean

TWS – total weighted score

TF – total frequency

Scale Equivalent to the weighted points

2.24 -3.0 = fast

1.67 -2.33 =moderate

1.00 -1.66 =slow

To determine the dangers in self medications percentage of frequency was

also computed.

Laguna State Polytechnic University

Sta. Cruz, Campus

Sta. Cruz, Laguna

COLLEGE OF NURSING

Survey Questionnaire on the effects of self medications in the health status of the in the residents of Brgy Sto. Angel Norte Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Magandang Araw po sa inyo!

Ako po ay isang mag- aaral ng Laguna State Polytechnic University ng

Sta. Cruz, Laguna sa larangan ng Nursing. Ito po ay naglalayon upang

malaman ang inyong dahilan at kaalaman sa paggamit o paginom ng mga

gamot sa inyong sariling desisyon. Ito po ay hindi isang pagsusulit kundi

isang pang-akademikong pangangailngan.

Maraming Salamat po!!

Pangalan(optional):________________________________

Tirahan:_________________________________________

Panuto: Lagyan ng check ( ) ang inyong sagot sa bawat katanungan.

I. Demograpiya ng mga Respondents

Personal na Datus

Edad

( ) 18-21 taong gulang

( ) 22-31taong gulang

( ) 32 taong gulang o higit pa

Kasarian

( ) Babae

( ) Lalaki

Antas ng pagaaral

Elementarya ( ) Nakapagtapos ( ) Di Nakapagtapos

Sekondarya ( ) Nakapagtapos ( ) Di Nakapagtapos

Kolehiyo ( ) Nakapagtapos ( ) Di Nakapagtapos

Hindi Nakapagaral ( )

Nagtatrabaho

( ) Oo

( ) Hindi

Panuto: Sagutan ang mga palatanungan sa abot ng inyong pagkakaunawa o

makakaya. Lagyan ng check ( ) ang inyong sagot sa bawat katanungan.

5- Lubos na Sumasang Ayon

4- Sumasang Ayon

3- Hindi Tiyak o sigurado

2- Hindi Sumasang ayon

1- Lubos na Hindi Sumasang Ayon

A. MGA NAIDUDULOT NG PAGGAMIT NG GAMOT

SA SARILING DESISYON

5 4 3 2 1

1. Nakapagdudulot ng magandang epekto

sa kondisyon.

2. Hindi magandang dulot sa kondisyon/

pangit na epekto sa pakiramdam.

3. Walang naitutulong sa kondisyon.

4. Naiiwasan ang paglala ng hindi

magandang kondisyon.

Maraming salamat po sa inyong pakikiisa at naway patnubayan kayo ng Poong Maykapal…

Prepared by:

Nergelyn Cardoza Gauna