CARACTERIZATION OF A SAMPLE OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS IN RELATION TO THE SELF-MEDICATION PRACTICE

Abstract

Indiscriminate use of self-medication may result in serious consequences, concerning a public health problem. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to assess the practice of self-medication by young people and adults. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study, with convenience sampling of 184 participants aged between 18 and 35 years, submitted to an instrument of questions about sociodemographic variables and related to self-medication practices, in 15-day recall period. It showed high incidence of females (80,4%) and of young people aged between 18 and 25 years (66,3%). There was a predominance (89,7%) of participants who used drugs in the last 15 days, majority (81,5%) used some medication without prescription. The main drugs consumed were analgesics/antipyretics (29,3%) and antiallergics/antihistamines (14,2%). The main symptoms were headache (27,4%) and allergy (13,7%), the practice was motivated by having previously been treated with the same medication for the same disease (55,6%). Population says they know medication consumed (84,7%) and risks of self-medication (84,8%), assessing the knowledge of risks as high (35,3%) and having the drug leaflet (47,0%) as the most used means of searching for information. So presupposes self-medication may be more focused on question of knowledge and self-confidence and not to lack of access to health system. For future studies, an investigation is recommended about this practice being characterized as responsible or indiscriminate, also evaluating in more depth first contacts and sources of referrals that practicing individuals have.