Assessment of Self-Treatment Knowledge, Beliefs and Practice during COVID-19 Pandemic among Egyptian Population: A Cross Sectional Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

lecturer of forensic medicine and clinical toxicology - kasr alaini- cairo university

Abstract

Background: Owing to absence of definitive treatment to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccine hesitancy, the general population sought information from various sources to prevent or treat the disease. Consequently, self-treatment (ST) was boosted in many parts of the world.
Aim: The current study aimed to assess ST knowledge, beliefs and practice during the COVID-19 pandemic among Egyptians.
Subjects and Method: A cross-sectional, anonymous online survey was conducted using different social media platforms to recruit participants. The survey assessed the sociodemographic characteristics, past COVID-19 infection and vaccination, exposure to ST, and reasons for ST.
Results: A total of 400 participants completed the questionnaire; their mean age was 34.9±11.5, females represented 67.8%, married (63.3%), living in urban areas (76.8%) and had chronic diseases (28%). About 67.5% had received vitamins or minerals, antibiotics or herbals or food supplements either due to ST (59.6%) or non-ST (40.4%). Among the ST group, vitamins were used by (81.9%), antibiotics (45.9%), and herbals and supplements (40.9%).
Conclusion: ST may delay medical advice seeking leading to worsening of the patient's health. Efforts to raise public awareness about risks of ST should be done by healthcare members especially in the media.
 
 

 
 

Keywords

The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine
Volume 89, Issue 1
October 2022
Pages 4516-4525

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics