Role of Non-Medical Use Of Prescribed Drugs, Perceived Stress, Rumination and Health Related Quality of Life among Health Care Workers

Abstract

The current study investigated the intricate interplay among perceived stress, rumination, non-medical use of prescribed drugs (NMUPD), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among healthcare professionals, specifically physicians and pharmacists in Pakistan. Through a cross-sectional survey design with a sample size of N = 206 participants, data was collected using standardized self-report measures. The sample was collected from Islamabad, Rawalpindi. Karachi, Multan and Wah. Results suggested elevated perceived stress, particularly among pharmacists, correlated with increased rumination and non-medical use of prescribed drugs, while significant disparities emerged between general physicians and pharmacists, highlighting the necessity for tailored interventions to address varied stressors in healthcare professionals.