Background: Use of over-the-counter analgesics among adolescents has increased markedly. High consumption of\nover-the-counter analgesics among adolescents is associated with frequent pain, lower self-esteem, reduced sleep,\nlower educational ambition, binge drinking, higher caffeine consumption, and part-time employment. Knowledge\nabout life experiences of adolescents who frequently use over-the-counter analgesics may be useful to prevent\nhealth problems. The purpose of the study was to increase knowledge about adolescents who suffer from frequent\npain and have a high consumption of over-the-counter analgesics.\nMethods: A qualitative study, employing one-on-one, in-depth interviews using a thematic interview guide. Data\nwere collected in Norway in 2013ââ?¬â??2014. Three boys and sixteen girls; aged 14ââ?¬â??16 years, who continuously\nconsumed over-the-counter analgesics were recruited from ten high schools in urban and suburban districts.\nCandidate participants were excluded if they were medically diagnosed with an acute or chronic illness, requiring\nextended use of over-the-counter analgesics within the last year. The interviews were taped, transcribed and analysed\nas text according to Kvaleââ?¬â?¢s three contexts of interpretation: self-understanding, common sense and theory.\nResults: All participants disclosed unresolved physical and psychosocial distress characterized as pain. Frequent pain\nfrom various body parts made everyday life challenging. Methods of pain self-appraisal and over-the-counter analgesics\nuse often mimicked maternal patterns. Participants reported being raised under unpredictable circumstances that\ncontributed to long lasting family conflicts and peer-group problems. Participants wanted to feel appreciated and\nto be socially and academically successful. However, pain reduced their ability to manage everyday life, hampered\nexperienced possibilities for success, and made social settings difficult.\nConclusions: Childhood experiences influence how adolescents experience pain and use over-the-counter analgesics.\nCoping with difficult situations or attempting to mask symptoms with over-the-counter analgesics can perpetuate and\namplify underlying problems. High consumption of over-the-counter analgesics and frequent pain may be warning\nsigns of adolescents with possible health threatening conditions and reduced quality of life. These adolescent might\nbe in need of support from school nurses and General Practitioners. This study identifies new perspectives that may\nlead to novel approaches to identify, guide, and support adolescents with frequent pain and high consumption of\nover-the-counter analgesics.
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