General public’s perspectives of issues relating to misuse of medicines: a cross-sectional survey in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Background Misuse of prescription medicines is a global issue potentially resulting in severe consequences including adverse drug reactions, dependence, tolerance, increased healthcare utility and mortality. Objective To assess the public’s perspectives of issues relating to medicines misuse. Method A survey of members of the public ( ≥ 18 years) attending medication safety awareness campaigns in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire comprised: issues relating to misuse of prescription medicines; medicines used without being prescribed by a physician; and suggestions to reduce misuse. Potential participants were approached opportunistically during the campaigns, with those agreeing to participate administered the questionnaire and responses recorded electronically. Results Of the 511 respondents, 59 (11.5%) did not always have their prescription medicines prescribed by a physician, and 196 (38.4%) were uncertain. Commonly cited medicines obtained from sources other than a physician were analgesics (n = 375, 73.2%), antibiotics (n = 57, 11.2%), antipyretics (n = 33, 6.5%) and narcotics (n = 4, 0.8%). More than half (n = 282, 55.2%) claimed to know someone who had misused medicines, some with serious consequences including hospitalization (n = 96, 34.0%) and death (n = 14, 5.0%). Conclusion This general public survey has identified that issues of misuses of medicines in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia persist and may compromise safety and effectiveness of care.