Objective:
To investigate self-reported health complaints and the use of
medicines among adolescents in Malta.
Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to survey
self-reported health complaints, the use and the sources of medicines
that had been accessed, during the preceding 3 months among adolescents
attending secondary schools in Malta. A stratified random sample
design generated a sample size of 514 students. The health complaints
and use of medicines that were investigated included ear problems/hay
fever/cold/cough, headache, skin problems, sport injuries, indigestion/diarrhoea/constipation,
eye problems and menstrual pain (for girls). The use of vitamins
and antibiotics was also investigated.
Results: A total of 477 students participated in the final data
collection. Correct information was submitted by 474 students,
(aged 14-16 years), who formed the analytical sample, of which
53.8% were girls. The students reported a mean number of 2.70
(SD = 1.39) out of a total of 7 health complaints and 90.3% reported
using at least 1 medicine during the preceding 3 months. The community
pharmacy was cited as the most commonly accessed source for most
of the medicines that were investigated. A proportion of 24.3%
of the students had taken at least 1 medicine without adult guidance
during the preceding 3 months. Almost 10% of those who had taken
antibiotics, had accessed them from the home medicine cabinet.
Conclusion: A high proportion of adolescents in Malta reported
the use of medicines to alleviate the symptoms of common health
complaints. This result is concordant with previous research carried
out in the United Kingdom, Germany, Slovakia and Kuwait. A considerable
proportion of students in this study had obtained medicines without
adult guidance and accessed antibiotics from the home medicine
cabinet. This highlights the importance of carefully designed
education programs for adolescents that will integrate information
about the proper use of medicines.
