Automedicação entre acadêmicos de Medicina das Universidades Católica e Federal de Pelotas/RS / Self-medication among medical students of two medicine schools in Pelotas, South Brazil
A alta taxa de automedicação encontrada no presente estudo reforça a necessidade de a correção dessa problemática através de uma mudança do ensinomédico, uma vez que o curso não aborda o tema de maneira a criar um senso de conscientização que o acadêmicos possam futuramente orientar seus pacientes de maneira crítica quanto ao uso racional e responsável das medicações.
Introduction:
Self-medication is a common practice and with important consequences for societys health profile, whether by contributing for the health system not to be overloaded with medical consultations for easily resolved symptoms or by hindering the diagnosis of a possible underlying pathology by masking its symptoms.
The study points to a high rate of self-medication among these students (90%). The practice was more common among women and its frequency increased as the student was more advanced in the course. Pain killers, NSAIDs and antipyretics were the most often drug classes used without medical supervision.
Conclusion:
The high rate of self-medication in the present study reinforces the need for correcting this problem by changing the current medical education, since the medicinecourse does not address the issue in order to create a sense of awareness, so that academics can eventually guide their patients critically about the rational and responsible use of medications.