Knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding correct analgesic use among senior/vocational high school students in Taiwan

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine students' knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding the correct use of analgesics and to examine the related factors. Methods: A probability-proportionate-to-size sampling method was used. Thirty-three senior/vocational high schools were randomly selected. A total of 2, 910 students completed the online self-administered questionnaire in 2013. Results: Greater than one-half of the students did not know that when taking pain medication containing acetaminophen, adults should not exceed 4, 000 mg per day. Approximately 22.1% of the students were unaware of the hepatotoxicity risk associated with acetaminophen. Multiple regression analysis showed that students in higher grades who had greater levels of correct analgesic knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy, take analgesic prescriptions and use other pain management techniques, such as hot/cold therapy, relaxation, and massage, and were more likely to demonstrate correct analgesic use behaviors if they had received pain management information from family members and had read the warning labels. In contrast, students taking analgesics from drug stores or family/friends were more likely to practice poor analgesic use behavior. Conclusions: The promotion of partnerships between schools and pharmacists is suggested, along with the implementation of teachers' training workshops, students' education programs, and parent-child activities in order to enhance correct analgesic use literacy.