ABSTRACT
This cross-sectional study was aimed at describing the pattern of medicine consumption of adults and elderly, users of the primary health care services in Lorena, state of Sao Paulo. Information with regard to the following characteristics was collected: social-demographic data, the reason for seeking the service, medical prescription and medication used in the last month, where this medication was purchased, self-medication and use of homeopathic medication. 766 individuals were interviewed, 66% of them women. More than 40% informed having a chronic disease and most of them considered themselves to be in good health. Approximately 70% of the studied population used drugs following medical prescription with a medicament/person average of 1.5, most of them for high blood pressure. This number increased with the age, was higher in situations of maintenance of health and cases of disease, in case of existence of chronic disease, in cases self-reported as in bad health conditions for men and regular health conditions for women. For the women the number was also higher for those not regularly using some primary care unit and those in return visits. Self medication and use of homeopathic medication were low.
Subject(s)
Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data , Primary Health Care , Adolescent , Adult , Brazil , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young AdultABSTRACT
Estudo transversal desenvolvido com a clientela da clínica médica das Unidades Básicas de Saúde de Lorena (SP) com o objetivo de descrever o perfil de utilização de medicamentos em adultos e idosos. Foram coletados dados sobre características sociodemográficas, razões de procura do serviço, prescrição medicamentosa, identificação do(s) medicamento(s) utilizado(s) no último mês, local de aquisição do(s) mesmo(s), automedicação e uso de medicamento(s) homeopático(s). Foram entrevistados 766 indivíduos, sendo 66 por cento do sexo feminino. Mais de 46 por cento dos entrevistados referiram existência de doença crônica e a maioria se considerava em bom estado de saúde. A prescrição de medicamentos alcançou cerca de 70 por cento da população, com média de 1,5 medicamento por pessoa, a maioria anti-hipertensivos. Este número aumentou com o aumento da idade, foi maior nas situações de manutenção do estado de saúde e casos de doença, na existência de doença crônica, nos casos auto-referidos como estado de saúde ruim para os homens e regular para as mulheres. Para as mulheres, também foi maior para as não inscritas em alguma UBS e para aquelas em consulta de retorno. A automedicação e o uso de medicamentos homeopáticos foram baixos.
This cross-sectional study was aimed at describing the pattern of medicine consumption of adults and elderly, users of the primary health care services in Lorena, state of São Paulo. Information with regard to the following characteristics was collected: social-demographic data, the reason for seeking the service, medical prescription and medication used in the last month, where this medication was purchased, self-medication and use of homeopathic medication. 766 individuals were interviewed, 66 percent of them women. More than 40 percent informed having a chronic disease and most of them considered themselves to be in good health. Approximately 70 percent of the studied population used drugs following medical prescription with a medicament/person average of 1.5, most of them for high blood pressure. This number increased with the age, was higher in situations of maintenance of health and cases of disease, in case of existence of chronic disease, in cases self-reported as in bad health conditions for men and regular health conditions for women. For the women the number was also higher for those not regularly using some primary care unit and those in return visits. Self medication and use of homeopathic medication were low.