# Determination of Drug Use Behaviors and Related Reasons of Adult Patients Applying to Family Health Centers

## TL;DR

This study examines how adult patients use medications and the factors influencing their drug use behaviors in Turkey.

## Contribution

The study identifies key sociodemographic and health literacy factors influencing drug use behaviors in primary healthcare settings.

## Key findings

- 38.5% of participants reported self-medicating without consulting a doctor.
- 79% of participants used medicine without a prescription.
- Health literacy and Morisky Medication Adherence scores showed a weak negative correlation.

## Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the drug use behaviors of patients applying to primary healthcare centers and the factors affecting these behaviors. Material and method: This cross-sectional, analytic study included 913 individuals applying to family health centers for various reasons in Kayseri, Türkiye. All subjects completed a questionnaire that asked about sociodemographic characteristics and attitudes towards drug use via the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and the Adult Health Literacy Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 913 individuals, comprising 288 (31.5%) men and 625 (68.5%) women, participated in this research. The average age of the participants was 41.79. Of the 913 subjects included, 23% reported that they would wait for recovery from a disease without any treatment attempt, while 53.5% reported that they visited a doctor, and 63.5% reported that they initially consulted a family health center. A total of 38.5% reported that they self-medicated without consulting a doctor. In addition, 79% of the subjects reported that they used medicine without a prescription. Conclusions: It was observed that age, gender, social insurance, educational status, level of health literacy, and presence of chronic diseases affect drug use behaviors. A weak, negative correlation was found between Morisky Medication Adherence scores and health literacy. Additionally, it was determined that only checking the expiration date before using a drug had an impact on drug adherence.