Adult Individuals' Drug Use Behaviors

Drugs are important substances used in the treatment of many illnesses. However the negative effect of incorrect use can cause many health problems. For this reason individuals need to have correct behaviors related to medication use. This study was planned as a descriptive type of research for the purpose of determining behaviors related to adult individuals' drug use and influential factors. The study sample was comprised of 170 individuals who were in families registered at a primary health clinic in Istanbul and who were monitored with home visits for continuing health care. Data were collected using an interview method during home visits and a "Drug use survey" developed by the researchers. The mean age of the research group was 33.6 (SD 5.5) years; 72.4% were female, 53.5% primary school graduates, and 84.1% had social health insurance. In 24.7% of the participants there was a continuous drug user in the home. The most commonly used medications in the home were analgesics and antipyretics (60.4%) and drugs for the cold and influenza (22.2%). It was determined that, for drug use behaviors, 91.8% of the participants stored drug in their own container in a cool and dry place, 91.2% paid attention to the name and expiration dates of drugs that they used. However 57.6% used drugs themselves without a physician recommendation, 62.9% did not use a physician prescribed drug when it did not help, 47.1% forgot to take drugs at the right time and in the right dosage. Women were found to keep drug beyond their expiration date more than men (p<0.01), and primary school graduates (78%) were found to take more preventive drugs (p<0.01). It is suggested that the study data create a data base for the preparation of educations programs about this topic.