Evaluation of the Effect of Self-Medication among Professional Health Workers in Abuja

Objectives: This study aims to assess the prevalence, types, and motivations for self-medication among healthcare professionals in Abuja, Nigeria.

Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Selected hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria.

Participants: 348 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, who provided informed consent, participated in the study. Intervention: No specific interventions were implemented in this study. However, the study underscores the need for educational programs to address the risks of self-medication among healthcare professionals in Abuja.

Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: The study examines self-medication prevalence, types of medications used, motivations for self-medication, and its impact on professional performance and healthcare quality.

Results: The findings reveal that 59.8% of participants reported rarely self-medicating, while 23.6% self-medicated on a weekly basis, 14.7% self-medicated monthly, and only 1.7% self-medicated daily. The study indicates moderate levels of self-medication among healthcare professionals, raising concerns about its implications for healthcare quality.

Conclusions: The study underscores the necessity for targeted interventions to enhance adherence to guidelines and promote safer healthcare practices in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria.