Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN PHILIPPINES

Tamag, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur 2700

College of Nursing
Website: [Link] Mail: unp_nursingvc@[Link]
CP# 09177148749, 09175785986

A RESEARCH STUDY ON

PRACTICES OF THE SELECTED RESIDENTS IN NANSUAGAO, CAOAYAN,

ILOCOS SUR TOWARDS SELF-MEDICATION OF OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS

Presented to:

BERNARDO OLIBER ARDE JR.

Professor

In Partial Fulfillment:

Of the requirement in the Course:

NCM 111: Nursing Research

Presented by:

DARYL LLOYD G. ABAN

DAFNY CZARINA G. ABLOG

RACHELLE B. CABIE

JOBELITO P. CASIL

DAPHNE A. GONZALO

CHRISHA MAE R. LAPAZ

TRISHA MARIFEL M. VENTURA

2021
 Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM
Introduction

Having a good health is one of the fundamental necessities of individuals. They deserve

to have a reliable access to right care and services because this is included in their rights as a

human being. The international affairs alongside the medical care providers has the obligation to

ensure and screen that the health care services are appropriately given to individuals. However, a

persistent worldwide increase in self-medication has been set off by financial and social elements

and the practice is turning into a significant public health problem. In which self-care is being

practiced by people for them to maintain their health, lessen their expenses, and protect

themselves from minor sicknesses and one of its component is self-medication.

These days, it is wildly observed that drug stores are more open than visiting emergency

clinics and facilities. Medicines were being dispensed without a clinical solution or legitimate

checking and that is the main reason why individuals can get medicines without any problem.

Furthermore, self-medication is a global health issue with major public health consequences.

Self-medication was practiced due to barriers to healthcare access, a lack of time, difficulties in

obtaining a medical consultation due to administrative delays, and economic constraints. Hence,

patients having mild symptoms don’t need to get a health professional, instead, they preferred to

meet the pharmacist for advice and medication for their diseases.

In like manner, self-medication has been defined as the use of medication for self-

treatment without consulting a physician either for diagnosis, prescription, or surveillance of

treatment. It involves obtaining medication without prescription and taking medicines on advice

of and from friends and relatives. They also added that self-medication is common in both

developed and developing countries but higher in developing countries, due to wider increase of
drug availability without prescription. It also masks the signs and symptoms of underlying

diseases, hence complicating the problem, creating drug resistance, and delaying diagnosis

(Esan, Fasoro, Odesanya, Esan, Ojo, and Faeji, 2018).

Self-medication is likewise attributed to a deficiency of accessibility of medical care

services and well prepared medical care experts, and counsel out in the public and private clinics

is fairly costly and hazardous because of the expanding number of instances of Covid-19 which

leaves individuals with no other choice but to self-care and self-cure. Here in the Philippines, the

power of social and online media and some medication advertising companies had likewise

affected the mind of individuals that makes them buy the item and accept the drug without the

appropriate counsel of a medical provider and supplier. As a result, people these days tend to

have their own understanding and practices in their own diseases that may influenced their own

thoughts and feelings which leads them to have their own decision and choose according to what

they know about the disease or illness they are experiencing.

Likewise, to the study of Kassie, Bifftu, and Mekonnen (2018), people may practice self-

medication for a variety of reasons, like the urge for self-care, sympathy for family members in

sickness, lack of health services, poverty, ignorance, misbelief, excessive advertisements of

drugs, and availability of drugs in establishments other than pharmacies.

In connection to the study of Zeru, Fetene, Geberu, Melesse, and Atnafu (2020), self-

medication is the use of medicines by individuals to treat self-recognized illnesses or symptoms

without any medical supervision. They added that having access to effective and efficient

healthcare system in a community is unquestionable, as good health is the fundamental

requirement of life.
 Moreover, as mentioned by Ansari (2018), consumers prefer to manage their common

health problems using self-medication as it is easier, cost effective, and time efficient.

It is also stated in the study of Barber, et al. (2017) that self-medication is a self-care

practice defined as the use of medicinal products by an individual to treat self-diagnosed

symptoms, or as the unsuitable administration of prescribed medicinal products, including the

intermittent or prolonged use of antibiotics, used to treat bacterial infections and sharing of

medications.

In addition, there are various beliefs and practices adapted and impacted by a specific

local area or people from their ancestors with regards to self-medication. Wherein it includes

taking medications without a prescription, sharing medicines with relatives or friends, or using

left over medicines stored in the residential place treating the same symptoms as to those who are

previously diagnosed. Furthermore, this certain practice incorporates purchasing and utilizing

over-the-counter medications to treat specific ailments like taking Paracetamol in treating fever,

Neozep as management for colds, Carbocisteine for cough and Mefenamic Acid to relieve pain,

and Amoxicillin to alleviate coughs and colds. This practices leads to the loss of resources and

high pathogenic resistance resulting in unavoidable adverse effects of the medicines, drug

dependence because of the tolerance produced to some drugs masking the concurrent diagnosis

of certain harmful diseases and problems associated with over and under dosing of un-prescribed

drugs.

Just like what Alefan and Halboup (2016) mentioned that self-treatment may lead to

several health problems: misuse of over-the-counter (OTC) medication, concurrent use of several

medications, and use of home remedies to treat potentially serious diseases, which may lead to

misdiagnosis or masking of potential health problems.

 As to devise appropriate educational, regulatory and administrative measure, the study

aimed to alleviate the public health risks arising from improper practices of self-medication

among the selected indigent residents of Nansuagao. Furthermore, this research will reveal the

occurrence of unreported harmful effects suffered by the respondents who are practicing self-

medication. The current study will not only add to existing knowledge, but will also advance the

field by discussing and understanding the relationship between the factors that influence the

prevalence of family self-medication practices, and by understanding these contributing factors,

health practitioners will be able to address the problem appropriately, preventing adverse effects

that could risk the community's health status through educational awareness. Moreover, the

researchers anticipate that by doing the study, health practitioners will be aware of the problems

in inappropriate over-the-counter medicine used, allowing them to develop interventions to

eliminate inappropriate use or correct the wrong practice. Also, it will be used to assess the

policies available to control medication around the country.

Statement of the Problem

The study aimed to determine the self-medication practices among the selected residents

in barangay Nansuagao, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur during the Calendar Year 2021-2022.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of the following socio-

demographic profile:

a. Age,

b. sex,

c. religion,
 d. educational attainment,

e. monthly family income, and

f. medical insurance

2. What are the self-medication related variables of the respondents along the

following aspects:

a. knowledge on self-medication,

b. leading symptoms to self-medication,

c. drugs used,

d. reasons for self-medication,

e. self-medication practices,

f. source of information, and

g. effects of self-medication

3. Is there a significant relationship between the profile and self-medication related

variables?

Scope and Delimitation

This study is delimited to the assessment towards the self-medication practices among the

selected residents in barangay Nansuagao, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur during the Calendar Year 2021-

2022 along the following: (1) socio-demographic profile, (2) self-medication related variables,

and (3) significant relationship between the profile and self-medication related variables were

also considering in the research.

The dependent variable of the study concentrated on the extent of self-medication related

variables which pertains to the knowledge on self-medication, leading symptoms to self-

medication, drugs used, reasons for self-medication, self-medication practices, source of

information, and effects of self-medication. On the other hand, the independent variables of the

study include the socio-demographic profile which were limited to age, sex, religion, educational

attainment, monthly family income and medical insurance of the respondents.

This study employed random selection of residents of barangay Nansuagao, Caoayan,

Ilocos Sur. Moreover, the descriptive correlational method of research was employed. The

relevant data gather in the study were limited to what was measured by the questionnaire adapted

by the researchers from Raj, Roshan, Roofus, Annie, Milan, and Akheesh (2019) however some

items were change for the betterment of the study. The following statistical tools were used in

the analysis of data gathered: frequency, percentage, mean and Pearson product moment of

correlation.

Theoretical Framework

To further understand the study, the review of the related literature and studies relevant to

the current research study with variables covering socio-demographic profile and self-medication

practices are included.

On Age

Self-medication is a pervasive practice worldwide, particularly among older people, as an

alternative to professional medical care. It has been acknowledged worldwide that self-

medication among older adults represents a public health concern, and that this demographic is

the most vulnerable to the risks of self-medication (Chang, Wang, and Fang, 2017).

Besides, according to Hochman (2017), as the people age, the body often gains more fat

and holds less water than it once did all of which can cause drugs to become more concentrated,

and medication can linger longer in your system, which can further increase the risk and severity
of side effects. He added that the key organs that are responsible for breaking down medications,

mainly the liver and the kidneys, begin to function more slowly as a result, medications don’t get

excreted as quickly. Conversely, he also added that medication might not be effectively absorbed

into the bloodstream, which could reduce a drug’s effectiveness.

In accordance with the study of Jafari, Khatony and Rahmani (2015), the prevalence of

self-medication among the elderly was relatively high. In connection with their study, Sarahroodi

et al. (2012) also stated that among all groups, the elderly tends to use higher amounts of non-

prescribed medicine because they suffer more from illnesses.

On Sex

In the study of Jafari, Khatony and Rahmani (2015), self-medication was significantly

higher in women than in men. More self-medication practice among women may be due to the

fact that they usually seek medical services more frequently than men.

In addition, Araia, Gebregziabher, and Mesfun (2019) mentioned that females were 2.8

times more likely to self-medicate themselves than males wherein this gender difference in self-

medication practice could be explained by the special health conditions such as menstruation that

women face which could be obvious complaint with clear measures to take from their point of

view.

On Religion

At the start of modern medicine, the ancient holistic paradigm of healthcare that was

present in many cultures gradually became replaced by a dualistic approach that separated cure

for the body from care for the soul. The specialized and technical approach of medicine failed in
its promise of holistic healing, compassion, and care (Afridi, Rasool, Tabassum, Shaheen,

Siddiqullah and Shujauddin, 2015).

Furthermore, in the study of Puchalski, Vitillo, Hull, and Reller (2014) they stated that

within the experience of serious illness, empirical research reveals an indelible connection

between medicine and spirituality, broadly defined as the way individuals seek and express

meaning and purpose, and experience connectedness to self, others, the significant or sacred.

Likewise, social determinants like spirituality and religiosity are increasingly identified to impact

health and treatment wherein religiosity was dominant among hypertensive patients, these

spiritual attachments of patients with a supreme being potentially increased their trust in the

expectation of divine healing instead of adhering adequately with their anti-hypertensive

medications (Kretchy, Owusu-Daaku, and Danquah, 2013).

On Educational Attainment

The level of education of the patients has may affect their understanding towards drugs’

dose, time of intake, side-effect, and indications wherein different educational approach can aid

the understanding of individuals. Moreover, people who managed to acquire basic education can

understand what the drug is in their own comprehension but people who finished medical and

health related programs have a better understanding especially for those who are inclined with

medicine (Bennadi, 2014).

Furthermore, as what to Chang, et al. (2017) mentioned on their study, people with higher

educational attainment tend to have better health literacy, greater knowledge about diseases and

medicines, enhanced self-efficacy in making appropriate decisions about self-diagnosis and self-
treatment, and less confidence in the quality of formal health services; therefore, they would be

more likely to self-medicate.

In like manner, self-medication was significantly higher among the literate elderly with

secondary education and above compared with those with primary education and illiterate ones

(Jafari, Khatony and Rahmani, 2015).

On Family Monthly Income

Students with low monthly income have more chances of obtaining drugs from pharmacy

or drug store without getting legal prescriptions from health professionals (Kifle, Mekuria,

Anteneh, and Enyew 2021).

In addition, Araia, Gebregzier, and Mesfunmothers (2019) stated that the mothers who

had any kind of job were more likely to use self-medication as compared to students whose

mothers were housewives due to working mothers could have less time but more income as

compared to a housewife. Thus, they could practice self-medication which may in turn,

encourage their children to practice self-medication as well.

On Medical Insurance

People with a history of unmet healthcare needs are more likely to have no

complementary health insurance. People benefit from a public health insurance which partly pay

the majority of medical care and may subscribe to a private complementary health insurance. For

people without a complementary health insurance and who choose to take a treatment, self-

medication is often cheaper than a medical consultation, particularly when it avoids excess from

medical consultations and additional investigations. Self-medication even costs nothing for
people who reuse medicines kept at home (Vanhaesebrouck, Vuillermoz, Robert, Parizot, and

Chauvin 2018).

Moreover, from the study of Jafari, Khatony and Rahmani (2015), they also stated that

the elderly with no medical insurance had significantly higher levels of self-medication in

comparison with those with medical insurance. It seems that those with medical insurance tend

to attend private offices more than those with no medical insurance possibly because of high

physician fee.

Just like what Garfield, Orgera, and Damico (2019) mentioned on their study, people

without health insurance are more likely to skip preventive services and report that they do not

have a regular source of health care compared to those who have health coverage. Also, adults

who are uninsured are over three times more likely than insured adults to say they have not had a

visit about their own health to a doctor or other health professional’s office or clinic.

On Knowledge on Self-medication

The students who are exposed to medical and pharmaceutical knowledge may have more

tendencies to practice self-medication compared to those who are not exposed to similar

knowledge (Alkhatatbeh, Alefan and Alqudah 2016).

Similarly, on the study of Jafari, Khatony and Rahmani (2015), self-medication among

those with drug information was significantly higher than those with no drug information, which

corresponds to the results of the study. They also stated that lack of knowledge about the side

effects and complications of drugs increased self-medication; however, it was less among those

with information about the side effects of drugs.

 In addition, Alves, Precioso, and Becoña (2020) they stated that the level of knowledge

about self-medicating is directly connected with practices of self-medication, or, in other words,

the students who reported having engaged in self-medicating practices in the last twelve months

were the ones who presented a higher level of knowledge on the topic in which this means that

the more students know about self-medication, including its potential consequences, the more

likely they are to engage it in, perhaps due to a wrongful perception that there are more benefits

than hazards directly related to this practice.

On the other hand, illiterate individuals are less aware of potential side effects linked to

concurrent use of medications and also less likely to scrutinize whether they are obtaining proper

treatment wherein these issues predispose them to frequent purchases of medications suggested

by drugstore employees, without seeking physician consultation or prescription (Monajilin, et al.,

2020).

On Leading Symptoms to Self-Medication

In accordance with the study of Araia, Gebregziabher and Mesfun (2019), the main

complaint related to self-medication was headache and fever, common cold, pain and chills that

encouraged self-medication practice. In connection with their study, Esan, et al. (2018) stated in

their study that the most common conditions were antibiotics used for cough, sore throat, and

gastroenteritis.

It was also observed in the study of Quispe-Cañari, et al. (2021) that all the surveyed

drugs in their study were consumed for various symptoms including fever, fatigue, cough,

sneezing, muscle pain, nasal congestion, sore throat, headache and breathing difficulty.

On Drugs Used
 In the study of Gebregziabher and Mesfun (2019), analgesics, anti-pyretic, antibiotics,

anti-acids, anti-microbial, anti-malarial, antihelmintiasis, antitussives, anti-histamines, common

cold tablets and syrups, vitamins and nutritional complements were the commonly used class of

medications for self-medication purpose.

Moreover, in the study of Chautrakarn, Khumros and Phutrakool (2021), the most

prevalent medicine categories used are analgesics, antipyretic drugs, anti-allergic or

antihistamine drugs, antacids and anti-reflux drugs, muscle relaxant drugs, antimicrobial drugs

and traditional remedies. With those drug categories, analgesics and antibiotics stand out as the

most commonly used self-medicated drugs.

On Reasons for Self-Medication

Self-medication is very common and a number of reasons could be enumerated for it.

Urge of self-care, feeling of sympathy toward family members in sickness, lack of time, lack of

health services, financial constraint, ignorance, misbelieves, extensive advertisement and

availability of drugs in other than drug shops are responsible for growing trend of self-

medication (Bennadi, 2013).

In like manner, Chautrakarn, Khumros and Phutrakool (2021) stated in their study that

most of their respondents believed there was no need to go to the hospital for treatment in the

case of minor illness, and another reason is that a pharmacy was located closer to their homes

than a hospital. They also agreed that self-medicating allowed them to keep the necessary

medications at home to share with family members and that buying their own medication was

more convenient than using their other medical insurance. Furthermore, they thought that they

could find information on how to treat illnesses on the Internet.

 Likewise, in the study of Kassie, Bifftu, and Mekonnen (2018), the most common

reasons why respondents practiced self-medication were perceiving illnesses as mild, the

similarity of illnesses with the past, and unable to afford health care fee. Moreover, due to lack of

income and time to consult health care professionals, inability to afford health care fees is noted

as the reason for self-medication practice.

Furthermore, Esan, et al. (2018) found out in their study that the most common factors

that led to self-medication among their respondents were attributed to unfriendly attitude of

health care workers, busy schedule that resulted into lack of time to visit the clinic, distance of

the clinic, and perceived inefficacy of prescribed drug.

Moreover, the most common reasons why respondents practiced self-medication were

perceiving illnesses as mild, the similarity of illnesses with the past, and unable to afford health

care fee. In addition, due to lack of income and time to consult health care professionals,

inability to afford health care fees is noted as the reason for self-medication practice (Kassie,

Bifftu, and Mekonnen, 2018).

In line with that, Shati, Khankeh, Ahmadi, Mehravaran, and Malakouti (2017) stated in

their study that negative attitudes ranged from psychosocial issues such as mistrust, fear of

hospitalization and surgery, fear and anxiety of being diagnosed with medical conditions

(particularly terminal illnesses) or adding more to their medications, fear of medical

interventions due to previous problems and complications and also logistical issues. The

logistical concerns for visiting a doctor include: lengthy waiting times at the doctors’, long

interval between identifying a need for specific tests and treatments and actually receiving those

services, and lack of support from their caregivers or families.

On Self-Medication Practices

In the study of Chautrakarn, Khumros and Phutrakool (2021), the majority of their

participants reported purchasing medications less than once a month or one to two times per

month. After taking those medications, they reported that they recovered from 50.4% of their

illnesses and 42.6% of their illnesses were frequently cured.

In addition, Foroutan and Foroutan (2014) stated in their study that all their respondents

reported that they kept medicines at home. The places where medicines were kept at home

include refrigerator, kitchen cupboard and bedroom whether this was the correct place or not.

And only 6.8% of their respondents said that they had read the instructions in the manufacturers’

patient information leaflets and it serve as their guide in storing the medicines that they bought.

Likewise, Monajilin, et al. (2020), found out that individuals who suffered from the same illness

repeatedly were more likely to adopt self-medication practices and use previously prescribed

drugs.

Moreover, elderly’s perception of drugs and their belief that certain medicines such as

pain killers, vitamins, home and herbal remedies, and even certain antibiotics are harmless and

effective leads them to use them groundlessly (Mortazavi, Shati, Khankeh, Ahmadi, Mehravaran,

and Malakouti, 2017).

On Source of Information

Media exposure and the increase of pharmaceuticals advertisement pose a larger threat to

this population as it was found that the majority of the respondents used at least one of the

advertised products, without discussing it with their physicians. Other reasons for self-
medication were their previous experiences, advice of family or friends (Burak and Damico

2017).

In addition, Druică, Băicus, Ianole-Călin, and Fischer (2021) stated in their study that the

practice of taking non-prescribed medication may be motivated through recommendations by

others within one’s social network, especially in an environment where trust in official

institutions is low and people tend to rely on close social networks to support each other in the

absence of an efficient institutional system.

Moreover, in the study of Zeru, Fentene, Geberu, Melesse and Atnafu (2020), the source

of drugs for self-medication such as community pharmacies, drug stores, unused drugs stored at

home, friends and relatives are repeatedly reported which greatly influence, contribute and

facilitate the occurrence of self-medication practice. At last, self-medication has a strong

relationship with sources of information such as pharmacists, physicians or nurses but without

prescriptions, friends or relatives, different readings, and reading materials.

On Effects of Self-Medication

According to Linskey (2020), many people who are living from more serious health

conditions, particularly mental health conditions, turn to self-medication as an alternative to

seeking appropriate care. Potential risks of self-medicating serious health conditions include

incorrect self-diagnosis, increased risk of drug or supplement interactions, incorrect choice of

therapy and risk of dependence and abuse.

Gateway Foundation (2021), also discussed that self-medicating can be dangerous and

lead to several complications and poor health. Potential risks of self-medication include
incorrectly self-diagnosing and taking the wrong medication. In some instances, dangerous drug

interactions may occur due to incorrect dosage or medication misuse.

Furthermore, major problems related to self-medication are wastage of resources,

increased resistance of pathogens and causes serious health hazards such as adverse reaction and

prolonged suffering. Antimicrobial resistance is a current problem world-wide particularly in

developing countries where antibiotics are available without any prescription (Bennadi, 2014).

Conceptual Framework

The practices of the selected residents in Nansuagao, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur either negative

or positive towards self-medication is largely dependent on their knowledge of self-medication

practice and its implications. The independent variable includes: age, sex, religion, educational

attainment, monthly family income, and medical insurance while the dependent variables

includes knowledge on self-medication, leading symptoms to self-medication, drugs used,

reasons for self-medication, self-medication practices, source of information, and effects of self-

medication.

Independent Variables Dependent Variables

Socio-demographic Profile Self-medication related Variables:

a. Age a. Knowledge on self-medication
b. Sex b. Leading symptoms to self-
c. Religion medication
d. Educational c. Drugs used
Attainment d. Reasons for self-medication
e. Monthly family e. Self-medication practices
income f. Source of information
f. Medical insurance g. Effects of self-medication.

Operational Definition of Terms

 To ensure better understanding of the study, the following terms are hereby defined

operationally.

Socio-demographic Profile. This refers to the personal characteristics of the respondents

which includes the following.

Age. Refers to the number of years in existence of the respondents at the time of

conductance of this study.

Sex. Refers to the biological and physiological characteristics of the respondents

that define them as male and female.

Educational attainment. Refers to the level of education the respondents have

achieved.

Religion. Refers to a particular group of worship of the respondent belong or to

which religious beliefs the respondents is connected with.

Monthly Family Income. Refers to the amount of money that the respondents

can earn every month.

Medical Insurance. Refers to the life insurance company where the respondents

applied to either to government or private companies.

Self-medication Related Variable. This refers to the associated factors related to self-

medication which include the following:

On Knowledge. This refers to knowing the synonym, benefit and risk

consequences of taking the non-prescribed medicine.

Symptoms. Refers to any subjective evidence of disease.

Drugs Used. Refers to denote that individuals use specific substances to attenuate

adverse states caused either by their psychiatric disorder or by its treatment. The
 underlying assumption is that substances are used in a selective manner based on their

distinct pharmacological effects.

Reason of Self-medication. This refers to the cause that led the person to self-

medicate on a particular drug.

Self- medication practices. This refers to intake of medicines required by an

individual for the settlement of a self-identified disorder or disease or the continued usage

of an already prescribed medicine for the recurrent or chronic disorder.

Source Information. This refers to where the information about the medication

and the drug itself came from.

Effects of Self-medication. Refers to the result of the medications after taking the

medication.

Assumption

This study is premised on the following assumptions:

1. The self-medication related variables of the respondents in Barangay Nansuagao,

Caoayan, Ilocos Sur is measurable.

2. The areas included in this study are enough as a basis for a relatively adequate means

of evaluating the self-medication practices of the respondents of Barangay

Nansuagao, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur.

3. The instruments used for data gathering are valid and reliable.

4. The responses of the respondents to the items in the questionnaire are true, accurate

and objective.

Hypothesis

Based from the problem raised on the study, the following hypothesis is considered:
 1. There is no significant relationship between the profile of the respondents and their

self-medication related variables.

Research Methodology

The methodology provides a detailed description that elaborates the plan of action,

process or design that informs the methods employed in the study.

A plan of action is necessary to attain the goal of answering the questions raised by the

researchers. In particular, this section discusses the context of the study, the participants, the

methodology employed, specific methods and the data collection techniques, step-by-step

procedures fallowed, and data analysis techniques.

Research Design. To realize the purpose of the study, the descriptive correlational

method of research was utilized with the main objective of generating hypothesis regarding

socio-demographic profile and self-medication related variables of the respondents.

Correlational analysis was used to determine the relationship between socio-demographic

profile and self-medication related variables of the respondents. This could also be used to

determine if these self-medication practices affect the well-being of the respondents.

Population and Sample. The respondents of the study are the selected residents of

Barangay Nansuagao, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur during the calendar year 2021-2022. Furthermore,

random sampling was done for the selected residents of Barangay Nansuagao, Caoayan, Ilocos

Sur to determine the respondent in these study. The summary of the population and sample is

presented in Table 1.

Barangay Population (N) Sample (n)

Nansuagao 260 158
Total 260 158
 Data Gathering Instruments. The principal device used by the researchers to collect the

data was a questionnaire checklist designed to gather information about the practices by the

respondents. Most parts of the questionnaire were adapted.

Part I of the questionnaire determined the socio-demographic factors of the respondents.

Part II assesses the self-medication related variables.

The part 1 and part 2 was adapted by the researchers which was based on the study of

Raj, Roshan, Roofus, Annie, Milan, and Akheesh (2019) wherein a slight revision and

modification was made.

The revised instrument was validated by competent and knowledgeable educators in the

field of the K-12 Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) or research authorities; Mrs. Doriden de

Classica A. Fabre, Teacher III, Mr. Jefferson R. Gannaban, Teacher II and Mr. Ricky F. Bosque,

Master Teacher II of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Ilocos

Sur National High School (ISNHS).

Data Gathering Procedure. The researchers sought permission from the Barangay

Captain/SK Chairman to administer the validated questionnaire to the respondents. When

permission was granted, the researchers personally went to houses of the target respondents in

order to give the consent form to the respondents to read and affix their signature before

administering the questionnaires. Eventually, the researchers administer the validated

questionnaires to the respondents. Finally, the researchers retrieved the questionnaires properly

as expected from the respondents with well-mannered and willingness to participate in the

research study. Data collected was tallied and subjected to statistical treatment and analysis.
Confidentiality of the data gathered and identity of the respondents were strictly kept by the

researchers.

Ethical Considerations. In keeping with the goal of research, which is to expand the

body of knowledge, the researchers in this study will be responsible for safeguarding the

respondents' legal and moral rights.

Conflict of Interest. There will be no conflict of interest during the investigation because

the researchers will conduct the study without receiving any outside funding or bribes, and only

for the purpose of studies.

Privacy, Anonymity, and Confidentiality. The respondents' identities will be kept in

strict confidence. The names of the respondents will be requested on an opt-in basis, and will be

dependent on their willingness or unwillingness to reveal their identities. The researchers will

ensure and guide against illegal access to the data in order to safeguard the anonymity of the

respondents and the confidentiality of the data. This will be addressed and maintained through

but not limited to the following (a) assigning code names/numbers for the respondents on all

research notes and documents, and (b) keeping survey forms and any other identifying

participant information in a locked file cabinet in the personal possession of the researcher. After

evaluating the data, the researchers will delete any identifying information, and all study results

will be provided without identifying information so that no one reading the results will be able to

link the responses to anyone. For one year, the data from this study will be saved on a password-

protected computer and in a secure box. The information will be accessible only to the primary

investigator and study staff. All records and files will be disposed of appropriately and/or

destroyed by a paper shredder when the manuscript is finalized and the study is distributed

and/or published.
 Informed Consent. Voluntary involvement will be ensured during the study, and

respondents will be given the opportunity to sign informed consent forms. The goal, risk, and

desired advantages of the research shall be adequately disclosed to the respondents. Respondents

will be asked to sign an informed consent form that details the study's aim, risks, and benefits, as

well as measures to ensure confidentiality and privacy, voluntary participation, and data

collection procedures. After the respondents have grasped the scope of their engagement, they

will sign. Furthermore, the respondents will be notified of their right to withdraw at any moment

if they choose not to continue participating in the study without being penalized.

Vulnerability. The participants in this study do not belong to any of the so-called

vulnerable categories. Even if they are not a member of the aforementioned group, the

researchers will advocate for their rights and ensure that all activities taken are in the best

interests of the respondents. The researchers will make every effort to safeguard the respondents

from any harm or risk, and will take all necessary steps to preserve their rights.

Recruitment. Random sampling will be used to select respondents based on criteria

agreed upon by the researchers and the thesis technical committee. The respondents will be

chosen from a population and sample of indigent residents in the stated barangay, gender,

religion, or educational attainment. Individuals with a low monthly family income were

considered eligible to participate in the study if they wanted to; however, those with a high

monthly family income were excluded. Also, those who are under the age of 18 are considered to

be off legal age.

Respondents will be asked to freely answer questions about their personal experiences.

Respondents will be protected by Batas Pambansa 232 Rule 3 section 3, which states that

employees of government agencies have the right to free expression and communication. They
have a right to know the study's findings. They will be informed that they have the right to

withdraw from the study at any moment if they feel it is necessary.

Assent. Due to the fact that all of the respondents will be of legal age, they will be able to

freely consent to their participation in the study.

Risks. Researchers avoided the risk of losing confidentiality by keeping the material

confidential and not disclosing it to anyone. The respondents' privacy was protected by not

disclosing any of their personal information. There are no questions in the data collection

material that elicit the respondents' risk of physical, social, or psychological well-being.

Benefits. Knowing the effects of self-medication as well as the benefits of self-

medication would benefit the respondents. This will assist the respondents in becoming more

self-sufficient in their decision-making about the management of minor illnesses. This will also

save them money and time that they would have spent in a hospital for minor ailments. This

study may help respondents become more aware of their self-medication practices and the signs

that lead to self-medication.

Compensation. Respondents will not be compensated in any way for their participation

in the study.

Community Consideration. The findings of the study may impact the general public's

practice of self-medication by revealing the elements that lead to self-medication. The findings

of the study respondents will be disseminated in order to gain knowledge and understanding of

their behaviors. In addition, this study will disclose the occurrence of adverse effects experienced

by the respondents who are practicing self-medication which is usually unreported. The current

study will not only add to the currently existing knowledge but further advance the field by
discussing and knowing the relationship of the factors that affect the prevalence of self-

medication practices of the respondents and understanding these contributing factors will lead

health practitioners to address the problem accordingly, preventing the occurrence of adverse

effects that can risk the health status of the community people through educational awareness.

Also, it will be used to assess the policies available to control medication around the country.

Specimen handling. Not applicable in the study.

Statistical Treatment of Data. To achieve the objectives that were set for this study, the

following statistical tools were used to treat the data the researchers gathered.

Frequency count and percentage distribution to describe the respondents in terms of their
socio-demographic factors.

Mean to look the degree of agreement or disagreement in each item of the socio-
demographic profile and self-medication related variables of the respondents in Nansuagao,
Caoayan, Ilocos Sur.

Pearson r xy to determine the significant relationship between socio-demographic profile

and self-medication related variables of the respondents in Nansuagao, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur.

Mortazavi, S. S., Shati, M., Khankeh, H. R., Ahmadi, F., Mehravaran, S., & Malakouti, S. K.

(2017, September 1). Self-medication among the elderly in Iran: a content analysis study

- BMC Geriatrics. BioMed Central. Retrieved January 31, 2022, from

[Link]