THE INFLUENCE OF KNOWLEDGE FACTORS ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SELF-MEDICATION IN THE CIJAWURA COMMUNITY OF BANDUNG CITY

Abstract

Self-medication refers to an individual's efforts to manage and alleviate health complaints independently without consulting a healthcare professional or obtaining a prescription from a doctor. It can be defined as the use of over-the-counter medications available at pharmacies without medical advice, as a means of treating oneself without the guidance or instructions of a medical professional, such as a doctor. Rational medication use encompasses the selection of appropriate medications, proper dosing, minimizing the risk of side effects, avoiding contraindications and drug interactions, and avoiding the excessive use of multiple medications, known as polypharmacy. In practice, a lack of knowledge about medications is a potential cause of medication errors in treatment. This is a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study. The data collection method involves the use of a validated questionnaire. A total of 100 respondents were selected using consecutive sampling from the population of Cijawura subdistrict, Bandung City. The level of knowledge and rationality of self-medication is influenced by factors such as age, educational level, and occupation. The findings of the study indicate that the level of knowledge about self-medication among patients in Cijawura, Bandung City, is predominantly good: ≥ 76%, and the level of rationality of self-medication among respondents is 89.83%, with 10.17% being irrational.