Understanding the Gaps in Home Medication Safety: A Cross-Sectional Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavioral Determinants.

INTRODUCTION

Home-based medication use is common in the management of both acute and chronic health conditions. In Saudi Arabia, factors, such as education level, social background, and health literacy, may influence how medications are stored, used, and managed at home, thereby affecting medication safety. Previous studies have reported gaps in public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to medication safety, including inappropriate use, storage, and adherence practices. Understanding these gaps within the community context is essential for improving safe medication use and reducing medication-related harm.

AIM: This study aims to assess these gaps among adults in Jeddah and suggest ways to improve safety and health outcomes.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between December 2023 and March 2024. A community-based, self-administered electronic questionnaire was used to assess adults' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding home medication safety. The questionnaire consisted of closed-ended items, including multiple-choice questions. Convenience sampling was used, and ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Batterjee Medical College. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Version 25.

RESULTS

A total of 312 community-dwelling adults from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, participated (mean age 29.6 years), with the majority being female (69.2%), single (61.9%), and college-educated (56.1%). Most participants reported taking two or fewer medications daily (82.1%) and once per day (75%). Mean scores were highest for medication safety knowledge (68.66%), followed by behavior (65.42%), whereas attitude scores were lowest (53.82%). Female participants had significantly higher knowledge scores than males (p < 0.0001), and higher medication counts were associated with lower knowledge and poorer behavior (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The study highlights key gaps in how adults in Jeddah understand and manage medication at home. More awareness and educational efforts are needed to improve knowledge, encourage safer practices, and positively shift attitudes around medication use.