Self-medication practices and medication literacy among adults in Kazakhstan

Background

Self-medication is a widespread practice worldwide, with prevalence ranging from 43% to over 60%, depending on country, population characteristics, and access to medications. The aim of this study was to assess the practice of self-medication and prevalence of risky practice in Kazakhstan.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 1,000 adults in Kazakhstan using a self-administered Risk Self-Medication, via Google Forms. The questionnaire was adapted into Kazakh and Russian languages. Psychometric validation, which demonstrated excellent reliability (α = 0.907) and acceptable construct validity. All items were measured using a 5-point Likert scale.

Results

The study sample was predominantly female (59.5%) and highly educated (62.9%). Although most participants (92.1%) obtained medicines from pharmacies. Nearly half (46.7%) consulted family or friends before medication use, and 63% visited a physician only when necessary. Medical literacy was moderate to high (61.3% read medication instructions), while only 39.9% were confident in dose calculation. 52.4% reported discontinuing treatment when symptoms improved, and 44.1% reported modifying prescribed regimens without medical consultation. A significant gender difference was found in medical literacy, with females scoring higher than males (t = 5.54, p < 0.001), while no gender differences were observed in self-medication behavior or treatment interference. Older age (≥60 years) was associated with lower self-medication behavior (β = -0.35[ 95% CI − 0.59 to − 0.09], p = 0.007).

Conclusions

Medication-related behavior is influenced not only by medical literacy, but also by reliance on informal advice, limited physician consultation, modification of prescribed therapy, and the common tendency of patients to discontinue medication prematurely after symptom improvement, underscoring the need for targeted public health strategies beyond educational measures alone.

Key messages

• Younger individuals demonstrate a higher tendency toward self-medication, indicating a greater reliance on unsupervised medication use.

• Premature discontinuation of treatment after symptom improvement is a frequent behavioral pattern and may compromise treatment effectiveness and long-term health outcomes.