Revista Internacional de Economía y Ciencias de la Gestión

Factors Influencing the Practice of Self-Medication among Bankers in Selected New Generation Banks in Ilorin Nigeria

Abstract

Joseph A Oluyemi, Muhammed A Yinusa, Raji Abdullateef, Akoh Sunday and Kadiri Kehinde

The irrational use of drugs often referred to as Self-medication, is fast becoming a global issue affecting all works life, including the Nigerian Banking Industry. This study aims at investigating the factors responsible for the practice of self medication among bankers in Ilorin, north central region of Nigeria. The study was conducted in five new generation banks in Ilorin, namely: Fidelity Bank, Diamond Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank. Information was gathered through questionnaire administration and a total of 240 bankers were included in the study. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 17.0. The study made use of tables, simple percentage and chats to present the data retrieved from the field. Major factors influencing the practice of self-medication as revealed in the study include: busy nature of job (64%), knowledge of drug to take (91%), nature of sickness (85%), seriousness of the sickness (82%) and faster relief from sickness (46%). The practice of self medication is also affected by respondents’ age, work duration, annual income and business unit as test of associations were statistically significant (p<0.05). Stiffer government regulation remains the way out of this practice in the banking industry in Nigeria and the Nigerian society at large.