OBJECTIVES: To review published studies exploring the self-medication practice in Saudi Arabia and associations factors that influencing self-medication practice.

METHODS: Electronic databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, ProQuest, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for articles published without a time limit from inception to June 2019. Inclusion criteria were: studies published in English or Arabic, and conducted in Saudi Arabia.

RESULTS:

thirty tow studies of 67 published studies met the inclusion criteria which conducted in Saudi Arabia. Observational cross-national was the manly methods used to investigate self-medication practice in the selected studies. Seven of these Studies were conducted in Riyad. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotic, vitamins are the most common medicines that involved in the self-medication practice in Saudi.

CONCLUSIONS : Self-medication practice is common among patients in Saudi Arabia. Special attention should be given to educating the public and health care providers on which illnesses for which they can seek self-medication without the advice of a healthcare provider, and responsible governmental and nongovernmental organizations should work hard to ensure the rational use of medication