Publication
Self-medication
| datacite.subject.fos | Ciências Médicas | |
| datacite.subject.sdg | 03:Saúde de Qualidade | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mota, Inês | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mendes, Isabel | |
| dc.contributor.author | Almeida, João | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pires, Maria Francisca | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pires, Tânia C.S.P. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Nascimento, Luís | |
| dc.contributor.editor | Mangoni, Arduino | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-10-27T13:59:28Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-10-27T13:59:28Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Self-medication allows individuals to treat minor health issues without a medical prescription, facilitated by the availability of over-thecounter (OTC) medicines [1,2]. This practice requires healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists, to play a key role in ensuring the safe and rational use of medicines. Objectives: This study aimed to understand the motivations behind self-medication in Portugal and to promote informed and responsible behaviour among the population. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2025 via an online questionnaire. The target sample was 385 individuals, with a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error. A total of 377 participants, all aged 20 or above and residing in mainland Portugal, completed the questionnaire. Results: A total of 91.8% reported engaging in self-medication, mostly women (77.7%), young adults aged 20–24 (58.1%), and residents in the North (60.1%). The majority held a university degree (54.9%) and were single (75.7%). The main motivations were prior knowledge (80.1%) and easy access to medicines (36.4%). The most commonly used medicines were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (87%), antipyretics (67.1%), and antihistamines (32.4%). Although participants showed autonomy in decision-making, healthcare professionals were the main source of influence (51.6%) when purchasing medicines. Conclusions: Self-medication is highly prevalent in Portugal and is largely driven by convenience and confidence. The study assessed motivations through participant responses and sociodemographic data, revealing the importance of health literacy. Responsible self-medication behaviour was promoted through an educational questionnaire and critical data analysis. Strengthening the role of pharmacy professionals is essential in guiding the public and ensuring the rational use of medicines. | por |
| dc.identifier.citation | Mota, Inês; Mendes, Isabal; Almeida, João; Pires, maria Francisca; Pires, Tânia C.S.P.; Nascimento, Luís (2025). Self-medication. In 13th APLF Annual Conference. Aveiro. ISSN 2042-0986. 16:5, p. 42-42 | |
| dc.identifier.doi | 10.1177/ 20420986251379201 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2042-0986 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2042-0994 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10198/34886 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.peerreviewed | yes | |
| dc.publisher | Associação Portuguesa de Licenciados em Farmácia (APLF) | |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ | |
| dc.subject | Self-medication | |
| dc.subject | Role of healthcare profissionalsionals | |
| dc.title | Self-medication | eng |
| dc.type | conference object | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| oaire.citation.endPage | 42 | |
| oaire.citation.issue | Issue S1 | |
| oaire.citation.startPage | 42 | |
| oaire.citation.title | journals.sagepub.com | |
| oaire.citation.volume | Volume 16 | |
| oaire.version | http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85 | |
| person.familyName | Pires | |
| person.familyName | Nascimento | |
| person.givenName | Tânia C.S.P. | |
| person.givenName | Luís | |
| person.identifier | 2118829 | |
| person.identifier.ciencia-id | 321E-2D96-00CA | |
| person.identifier.ciencia-id | 9918-ED25-623E | |
| person.identifier.orcid | 0000-0002-3954-3833 | |
| person.identifier.orcid | 0000-0002-1302-2570 | |
| person.identifier.rid | Q-2842-2018 | |
| person.identifier.scopus-author-id | 57057440000 | |
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| relation.isAuthorOfPublication | 9e7bebc0-4460-4f4c-b687-10e34c3b36b9 | |
| relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery | 34af4d18-b8ae-4329-9450-69dc35ed448f |