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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Self-medication is defined as the consumption of a drug without guidance or prescription of competent professionals, in which the patient decides that the product will be used. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and frequency of self-medication; characterize the therapy used, reasons, verify the occurrence of undesirable effects and knowledge about the risks; and to determine associated factors.
Methods: This cross-sectional and correlational study, had a sample of 330 individuals, 57.0% females and 43.0% males, aged between 18 and 88 years (mean 41.3). Data collection was carried out through a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analyses were applied measures of central tendency and dispersion, and the chi-square considering a significance level of 5%.
Results: The prevalence of self-medication was 87.6%, of which 78.2% self-medicated in the last year, the majority only a few times per year (81.2%), with a minority that makes daily (0.9%). The drugs most frequently used are Paracetamol (75.8%) and Ibuprofen (61.2%), headaches (67.0%) and colds (65.2%) being the main reasons. Among individuals who self-medicate, 52.1% admit to inform physician of non-prescribed drugs used and 83.0% reported not having notied the occurrence of undesirable effects. Of all individuals surveyed, 88.2% claim that self-medication is dangerous for health. Gender and educational level appear to be associated with self-medication (p<0.001 and p=0.01, respectively).
Conclusions: Self-medication is highly prevalent, but infrequent over the year. The analgesics and anti-inflammatorys are the most used due to headaches and colds. Self-medication is considered risky to health and appears to be linked to gender and education level
Description
Keywords
Self-medication Drugs not subject to prescription
Citation
Pinto, Isabel C.; Coelho, Joana; Teixeira, Ana; Bernardo, Carlos; Vaz, Cristina (2014). Self-medication in a Northern Town of Portugal. In 2nd World Congress of Health Research. Atención Primaria. ISSN 0212-6567 46 (Espec Cong 1), p. 69-70
Publisher
Elsevier