Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39600929›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in medicine2024

Knowledge and attitudes toward over-the-counter medications among pharmacy students: insights from a cross-sectional study in Taif University, Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed S Alharthi, Hassan Almalki, Faisal Alsubaie, Fawaz Alotaibe, Abdullah Abuasiah, Faisal Basha, Mohammed M Aldurdunji, Nasser M Alorfi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mohammed S AlharthiDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Hassan AlmalkiDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Faisal AlsubaieDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Fawaz AlotaibeDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah AbuasiahDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Faisal BashaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed M AldurdunjiDepartment of Pharmaceutical Practices, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Nasser M AlorfiDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are those obtained without a medical prescription from a healthcare professional. With the increasing availability of information from various sources, including social media, pharmacy students may be exposed to unreliable or inaccurate data. Incorrect medication use is particularly concerning due to its potential risk of causing adverse health effects." Hence, this study aims to determine students' knowledge and attitudes at Taif University's pharmacy college. Methods: This research utilized a cross-sectional online questionnaire-based study, employing data from a sample of 450 pharmacy students from Taif University in Saudi Arabia. Descriptive analysis included descriptive and differential analysis. The data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Version 27. Results: The majority of participants, 297 (88.2%), were aware that inappropriate use of over-the-counter medications might have negative implications. A total of 233 participants (51.8%) reported having previously used an OTC medication. Also, 293 (65.1%), were aware that using OTC medications beyond their expiration date was harmful. A total of 280 participants (62.2%) had a high knowledge of OTC medication, whereas 170 respondents (37.8%) had a low level of knowledge. A significant correlation was found between age, year of study, and the use of OTC medication Conclusion: The study found positive attitudes toward OTC medications. Due to increased pharmaceutical exposure and self-medication, upper-year students and OTC course graduates comprehend OTC medications better. The examination found safety protocol violations in expiration dates, prescription label interpretation, and storage. Therefore, the study provides useful information for future attempts. Also, this study may contribute to the literature and guide future research to fill knowledge gaps.

Indexed as

and knowledgehealth knowledgeover-the-counter medicationspharmacy educationself-medicationstudents’ attitudes

Identifiers

PMID39600929
PMCPMC11588449

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.