Assessment of Self-Medication of the Elderly in Urban Care Homes By Using Health Belief Model

Self-medication is a common health issue throughout the world, especially in developing countries that have a greater level of drug-resistance. the present study was conducted with the aim to evaluate self-medication in the elderly using constructs of health belief model (hbm). in this study, 180 elderly were randomly selected from 4 urban care centers. data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire based on hbm and selfmedication, and analyzed by using spss and chi-square and logistic regression tests. the results revealed that 99.4% of the elderly kept medicine in their homes, and used them in common cases of high blood pressure, cold, and muscular and joint aches. self-medication in the elderly was found significantly related to history of chronic diseases, knowledge, self-efficacy, benefits, barriers, and perceived intensity. according to the present study results, use of hbm is recommended to design educational programs aiming to change behaviors and reduce habitual selfmedication.