Table 2.

Examples of codes, sub-categories and categories from content analysis of participants’ experiences

Theme	Self-medication
Categories	Enabling health system			Patient’s attitudes towards disease, treatment and physicians
Subcategories	Confusion in choosing a care provider	Patient confusion after the visit	Unregulated availability of medication	Underrating disease	Considering medication safe and effective
Codes	Choosing physicians based on their popularity	Patient unawareness about disease and treatment processes	Purchasing prescription medication from the pharmacy without a prescription	Believing that certain mild diseases do not require a physician	Not counting herbal and traditional medicines as medication
	Choosing physicians recommended by one’s social circle	Failure to provide instructions for using the drug	Pharmacies prescribing medication for patients	Believing that the disease will resolve spontaneously	Assuming vitamins to be good for everyone
	Choosing physicians recommended by other patients	Failure to provide instructions for dealing with side effects	Obtaining medication in amounts more than necessary	Relating disease to age	Assuming painkillers to be safe