DOI: 10.26650/istanbuljpharm.2026.1818100 ISSN: 2587-2087

Assessment of Self-Medication Practices Among Higher-Educated Adults: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Dietary Supplement and OTC Drug Use

Nesligül Özdemir-ayduran, Rümeysa Levent, Ahmet Çakır
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Background and aims: Self-medication, including dietary supplements and over-the-counter drugs, is common worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate self-medication attitudes and behaviours with dietary supplements and OTC drugs among highly educated adults and examine their association with rational drug use awareness.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and May 2025 in a community pharmacy in eastern Türkiye. Adults aged 18–65 with university-level education were recruited via snowball sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and the validated Adult Rational Drug Use Awareness Scale. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, and chi-square analyses were performed.Results: Data from 300 participants (median age 24 years, 78.3% female) were analysed. Dietary supplements were used by 43.7% of participants, most commonly vitamins, minerals, and probiotics, with doctors (85%) and pharmacists (78.3%) as primary sources of guidance. OTC drugs were used by 39.3%, primarily analgesics and cold/flu medications, with prior experience and convenience cited as the main reasons. Rational drug use awareness scores were significantly higher among non-users of dietary supplements (p = 0.02), whereas no significant difference was observed for OTC use. No significant associations were found between self-medication and demographics.Conclusion: Self-medication with dietary supplements and OTC drugs is prevalent among highly educated adults, with healthcare professionals as primary sources of guidance. Although awareness of rational drug use was high, non-users of dietary supplements had higher scale scores. These findings underscore the need to promote evidence-based self-medication practices and strengthen the advisory role of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, even among well-educated populations.

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