Objective:
To investigate knowledge of medicines and sources of information
about medicines among adolescents in Malta.
Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to survey
knowledge of medicines and information sources among adolescents
attending secondary schools in Malta. A random stratified sample
design generated a sample size of 514 students. Knowledge of medicines
was investigated by questions that included topics about the efficacy
of medicines, proper communication during a medical consultation,
the safety of medicines, antibiotic use and pictograms.
Results: The analytical sample, of which 53.8% were girls, was
made up of 474 students, aged 14-16 years. The students obtained
a mean score of 22.92 points (SD = 4.31) out of a maximum of 32
points for medicine knowledge. More than 30.0% of the respondents
did not mark the correct answer for 40.6% of the questions in
the questionnaire. The family physician, community pharmacist
and parents were the sources of information that were mostly cited.
A proportion of 4.4% had obtained information from the teacher.
A quarter of the respondents (24.7%) had obtained information
from friends/schoolmates, young relatives or the media, generally
television (17.3%).
Conclusion: Although the level of knowledge about medicines among
this study sample of Maltese students was good, there appeared
to be particular misconceptions with regard to important aspects
associated with the proper use of medicines. These findings highlight
the need to educate adolescents about the proper use of medicines.
The most important information providers about medicines appeared
to be the physician, pharmacist and parents. It is being suggested
that education campaigns should be organized in order to help
parents guide adolescents on how to use medicines appropriately.
In addition, adolescents would benefit if more information about
the proper use of medicines would be disseminated by means of
television programs and school-based health education curricula.
