KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ON PARACETAMOL AND NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS: ELECTRONIC SURVEY IN TAIF KINGDOM SAUDI ARABIA

ABSTRACT Objective: To measure the public knowledge and identify their attitudes on paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Participants and methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted in Taif region, Saudi Arabia during May 2017. Adult Saudi (>18 years) were included. A structured- questionnaire was used to collect the data and it was distributed electronically through Linkonline. Descriptive statistics were used to describe all variables. Logistic regression analysis was performed. Data was processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 410 people participated, of them 205 (50%) were males. Nearly two thirds of the participants admitted that they always self-medicated with paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Level of education was found to be the most significant predictor of using analgesics without prescription, (P = 0.001). Respondents considered with satisfactory knowledge on paracetamol were 96 (23.4%). Interviewees suffered from chronic diseases had more satisfactory knowledge compared to healthy ones, (P = 0.04). Conclusion: Gaps in knowledge and misconceptions in attitudes on important aspects related to the use and safety of paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were identified. Educational interventions to upgrade public knowledge on these agents are badly needed. KEYWORDS: Paracetamol, NSAID,: Electronic Survey, Taif Kingdom Saudi Arabia