Development of a Remote Health Support Program by Pharmacists and Elucidation of Its Effectiveness: A Randomized Controlled Study.

No progress has been made in using remote communication tools for less urgent but equally important health support services, such as preventive medicine and health education. In this study, we developed a remote health support program by pharmacists for community residents and conducted a randomized controlled study on its effectiveness in proper self-medication through pharmacists. People over the age of 20 years who lived in the vicinity of Gifu City, Japan were eligible to participate in this study. Participants were recruited using posters and brochures. This program comprised a lecture, based on the health belief model and behavioral economics, and access to remote health support. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: the medicine/health class only (control) and the medicine/health class along with the program (intervention) groups. The participants were administered questionnaire surveys immediately before (the first survey) and 2 months after (the second survey) the medicine/health class, which allowed us to compare the changes in the two groups' behavior regarding performing proper self-medication through pharmacists. The percentage of individuals who started consulting pharmacists about self-medication in the intervention group (63.9%, 23/36) was significantly higher than that in the control group (15.2%, 5/33; p < 0.001). The percentage of individuals who started recording information about their self-medication in their medication notebooks in the intervention group (16.7%, 6/36) was significantly higher than that in the control group (0%, 0/33; p = 0.026). We clarified the effectiveness of this program for behavioral changes toward proper self-medication using support from pharmacists.

Prevalence of self-medication practices among pregnant women in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication practice among pregnant women is a global concern. However, its understanding in the Indian context is limited due to a lack of comprehensive studies. PURPOSE: This study aimed to comprehensively assess the prevalence of self-medication, the medications used for self-medication, diseases/conditions associated with self-medication, and the reasons for self-medication among Indian pregnant women. METHODS: This study was carried out following the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A thorough search was done in PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar to find articles that were published up until May 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised observational studies reporting self-medication prevalence among pregnant women in India. Data were extracted using a standardized sheet, and a random-effects model was applied to determine the overall prevalence of self-medication using R software. The I2 statistic was employed to assess the heterogeneity among the studies. RESULTS: This study analyzed eight studies with a collective sample size of 2208 pregnant women. The pooled prevalence of self-medication among pregnant Indian women was 19.3% (95% CI: 7.5%-41.3%; I2 = 99%; p < 0.01). Common self-treated conditions were cold, cough, fever, headache, and stomach disorders. Antipyretics, analgesics, antihistamines, and antacids were frequently used for self-medication. The perception of mild ailment, immediate alleviation, convenience, time savings, and advice from family, friends, or the media were all reasons for self-medication. Local pharmacies were the most usual source for obtaining drugs, and pharmacists, family, friends, and past prescriptions were common sources of medicine information. CONCLUSIONS: A low yet substantial number of pregnant women in India are engaged in self-medication practices. Appropriate strategies need to be planned to reduce self-medication practices to attain sustainable developmental goals for maternal health in India.

Exploring the Global Landscape of Self-Medication Among Students: Trends, Risks, and Recommendations for Safe and Responsible Practices

Objective: This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of self-medication practices among students by conducting a bibliometric analysis of the available scientific literature. This research highlights the importance of promoting safe and responsible healthcare behaviors among students. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the Scopus database to retrieve all peer-reviewed English articles and reviews published from 1968 onwards. The retrieved documents were analyzed to identify publication trends, citation counts, top journals, geographical distribution, and emerging research themes. Results: The findings indicate a significant increase in published literature about student self-medication over the past fifteen years. However, it was observed that the citation count for these documents was lower than expected, suggesting a need for increased attention toward this critical topic. The analysis also identified several hot topics in student self-medication, including the misuse of over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, and psychoactive substances. The inappropriate use of antibiotics and the self-medication of mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, were also identified as significant problems. Conclusions and recommendations: Self-medication among students is a complex and critical issue that requires immediate attention. This study highlights the urgent need for greater awareness and education regarding responsible self-medication practices among students. New policies, interventions, and strategies should be developed to address malpractices, misconceptions, and harmful practices related to self-medication. Educational institutions and health authorities should play a crucial role in providing students with mental health resources and support services... (AU)

Tools to measure barriers to medication management capacity in older adults: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Medication management capacity is a crucial component of medication adherence, particularly among older adults. Various factors, including physical abilities, cognitive functions, sensory capabilities, motivational, and environmental factors, influence older adults' ability to manage medications. It is, therefore, crucial to identify appropriate tools that allow clinicians to determine which factors may impact medication management capacity and, consequently, nonadherence to medications. PURPOSE: 1)To identify tools that measure physical, cognitive, sensory (vision, hearing, touch), motivational, and environmental barriers to medication self-management in older adults, and 2) to understand the extent to which these tools assess various barriers. METHODS: The scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework and the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. In June 2022, the relevant literature was identified by searching PubMed (MEDLINE), Ovid Embase, Ovid IPA, EBSCOhost CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, and Scopus. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In total, 7235 studies were identified. Following the removal of duplicates, 4607 articles were screened by title and abstract, of which 4253 did not meet the inclusion criteria. Three reviewers reviewed the full texts of the remaining 354 articles; among them, 41 articles, 4 theses and 1 conference abstract met the inclusion criteria. From the included studies, 44 tools were identified that measured a combination of physical, cognitive, sensory, motivational, and environmental barriers (n=19) or only cognition (n=13), vision (n=5), environmental factors (n=3), auditory (n=1), and motivational factors (n=1). The review also examined the psychometric properties of the identified tools and found that most of them had reported validity and reliability data. Several tools have demonstrated promise in assessing a combination of barriers with validity and reliability. These tools include the Self-Medication Assessment Tool (SMAT), ManageMed Screening (MMS), Self-Medication Risk Assessment Tool (RAT), HOME-Rx revised, and Medication Management Ability Assessment (MMAA). CONCLUSION: This scoping review identified 44 validated tools to measure various challenges that older adults encounter with medication management. However, no tool measures all five barriers (physical, cognitive, sensory, motivational, and environmental) to medication-taking at home. Therefore, utilizing a combination of tools would be most appropriate to measure these different aspects comprehensively. Further research is needed to develop a new comprehensive tool that simultaneously measures various barriers to medication self-management.

Unravelling the dilemma of self-medication in Egypt: a cross-sectional survey on knowledge, attitude, and practice of the general Egyptian population.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication (SM) is a rising public health issue, especially in developing countries. It can be associated with various problems such as the delayed seeking of medical advice, drug interactions, and serious events such as antimicrobial drug resistance. We aimed to evaluate the Egyptian general population's knowledge, attitudes, and practices of SM. METHODS: We employed a cross-sectional design between February 7th and March 8th, 2023 using a self-administered questionnaire available in Arabic. The questionnaire was developed based on previous studies and included four domains: sociodemographic data, knowledge, attitude, and practice of SM. We utilized both online (Google Forms) and paper surveys, utilizing convenience and snowball sampling methods. Data were analyzed using R Statistical Software (v4.1.3; R Core Team 2022). RESULTS: 1630 Egyptian individuals (838 females and 792 males) from the seven provinces were enrolled, with a median age of 25 years (IQR: 22-40). Around 55.97% and 48.28% of the participants had good knowledge and favorable attitudes regarding SM respectively, while 62.8% had practiced SM in the previous three months. The most frequently used medications were painkillers (60.74%) followed by antibiotics (32.13%) and antipyretics (28.61%). The pharmacist's recommendation was the source of SM for 53.61% while 31.53% used old medications at home. Most participants (59.08%) practiced SM because they thought they had simple or minor symptoms. The multivariate regression analysis revealed that females had significantly higher knowledge of SM than males (aOR: 2.10; 95%CI: 1.64-2.71; p-value < 0.001), with no significant differences in practice (aOR: 1.24; 95%CI: 0.99 - 1.56; p-value = 0.065). Individuals working or studying in the medical field were significantly more knowledgeable about SM (aOR: 4.30; 95%CI: 3.27-5.69; p-value < 0.001) and more likely to practice SM (aOR: 1.65; 95%CI: 1.26-2.17; p-value < 0.001). The odds of SM decreased with favorable attitudes (aOR: 0.44; 95%CI: 0.36-0.55; p-value < 0.001) while surprisingly, knowledge level was not significantly contributing to SM practice (aOR: 1.15; 95%CI: 0.90-1.48; p-value = 0.268). CONCLUSIONS: SM is prevalent in Egypt, highlighting the importance of raising awareness and encouraging physician consultation as a priority. Governments, healthcare organizations, and educational institutions need to collaborate to provide the necessary support and resources.

Exploring the discourses around microdosing psychedelics within the r/microdosing online community.

In the present contribution, we examine the practice of microdosing psychedelics (microdosing) through textual analysis of the content produced by a dedicated online community, the r/microdosing subreddit. We collected a comprehensive dataset of publicly available submissions from this community and used structural topic modelling to identify and analyse the prevalent topics within the discussions. Through our analysis, we identified 16 distinct topics that mapped into clinical, human enhancement, as well as self-medication narratives. Notably, we found that the majority of discussions revolved around "how to" topics, supporting our argument that such online communities serve as essential information hubs, facilitating the dissemination of practical knowledge related to microdosing practices among the general population. The identified impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the prevalence of discussion topics suggests that individuals within the online community may perceive microdosing primarily as a means of self-medication during times of heightened stress and uncertainty. Our findings contribute to the field of health sociology and psychedelic research by shedding light on the sociocultural factors influencing healthcare practices, including the role of online communities in facilitating processes of self-medicalization and self-medication.

Exploring knowledge, perceptions, and practices of antimicrobials, and their resistance among medicine dispensers and community members in Kavrepalanchok District of Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate use of antimicrobials is a global public health issue, particularly in developing countries, including Nepal, where over-the-counter sales and self-medication of antimicrobials are common. OBJECTIVES: To explore knowledge, perceptions, and practices of antimicrobials and their resistance among medicine dispensers and community members in Nepal. METHODS: The study was conducted in three rural and five urban municipalities of the Kavrepalanchok district from May 2021 to August 2021. Data were collected using two qualitative approaches: In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis that combined deductive and inductive approaches to identify codes under pre-specified themes. RESULTS: A total of 16 In-depth interviews with medicine dispensers and 3 focus group discussions with community members were conducted. Knowledge regarding antimicrobial resistance varied among dispensers. Those with a prior educational background in pharmacy often had good knowledge about the causes and consequences of antimicrobial resistance. Meanwhile, consumers were less aware of antimicrobial resistance. Community members perceived antimicrobials as effective medicines but not long-term solution for treating diseases. They reported that dispensing without a prescription was common and that both consumers and dispensers were responsible for the inappropriate use of antimicrobials. On the contrary, several dispensers said that self-medication was common among the consumers, especially among more educated groups. The medicine dispensers and consumers expressed concerns about the weak enforcement of policies regarding pharmacy drug use and dispensing practices. CONCLUSION: Promoting and strengthening the appropriate use of antimicrobials among medicine dispensers and community members is crucial. Bold policies and collective implementation of regulations could help combat antimicrobial resistance.

Frequency of Self-Medication and Knowledge about Out-of-Counter Drugs during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Group of Iranian Dental Students

Abstract Objective: To study the frequency of self-medication and knowledge about out-of-counter drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic in a group of Iranian dental students. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among dental undergraduates from September 2021 to November 2021 after receiving ethical clearance from the Kerman Medical University Ethical Committee. A valid and reliable questionnaire, consisting of demographic data and questions about self-medication and knowledge about out-of-counter drugs, was sent to participants via E-mail. Data was analyzed by SPSS 26 software by using a t-test. The P-value was considered at a 0.05% significant level. Results: A total of 88 students participated in the study with a mean age of 21.39±3.71 years. Prevalence of self-medication was found in 53.4%. The most common cause for self-medication was headache. Acetaminophen was the most commonly used medicine for self-medication. Females had more self-medication than males, but there was no significant differences. There was no significant differences between entering year to university and self-medication. Younger students had significantly more self-medication (p=0.007). Knowledge about out-of-counter drugs was moderate. Conclusion: Moderate self-medication as noticed. The out-of-counter drugs were the most used. Although out-of-counter drugs seem relatively safe, their improper use can cause serious side effects. Dental students need to be educated regarding appropriate safe medication and out-of-counter drugs.

Self-medication associated with toothache: a systematic literature review / Automedicação associada à dor de dente: uma revisão sistemática da literatura / Automedicación asociada al dolor de dientes: una revisión sistemática de la literatura

Introduction: Self-medication consists of selecting and using medication without a poprescription or guidance from a healthcare professional. This practice has been widely reported worldwide, which has contributed to a series of adverse health outcomes, such as delayed diagnosis, worsening of clinical conditions, drug interactions, intoxication, and adverse reactions, which tend to compromise patient safety. Objective:To analyze the prevalence of self-medication associated with toothache, the main factors associated with self-medication in dental patients, as well as outline the profile of medications used by these individuals, the preferred route of administration, and the main sources of medication.Methodology:Asystematic review was developed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Relevant articles published in the last ten years, without limitations of language were searched using the following descriptors/MeSHterms and keywords: "self-medication" and (toothache or "dental pain") not Child. Results:The initial search returned 61 manuscripts. Fourteen papers, all cross-sectional studies, were eligible for inclusion in the systematic review.Conclusions:The prevalence of self-medication for toothache ranged from 6.5% to 100.0%. Cultural and economic factors, barriers to access, the high cost of dental treatments, lack of time and money, and the perception that dental problems are not a serious problem are among the main factors associated with the practice. Regarding the drugs used, the most used classes were paracetamol, especially anti-inflammatory drugs, particularly ibuprofen, and analgesics administered orally (AU).

Introdução:A automedicação consiste na escolha e uso de medicamentos sem prescrição ou orientação de um profissional de saúde. Essa prática tem sido amplamente divulgada em todo o mundo, o que tem contribuído para uma série de desfechos adversos à saúde, como atraso no diagnóstico, piora do quadro clínico, interações medicamentosas, intoxicações e reações adversas, que tendem a comprometer a segurança do paciente. Objetivo:Analisar a prevalência da automedicação associada à dor de dente, os principais fatores associados à automedicação em pacientes odontológicos, bem como traçar o perfil dos medicamentos utilizados por esses indivíduos, a via preferencial de administração e as principais fontes de medicação. Metodologia:Uma revisão sistemática foi desenvolvida de acordo com os itens de relatório preferidos para revisões sistemáticas e meta-análises (PRISMA). Foram pesquisados artigos relevantes publicados nos últimos dez anos, sem limitação de linguagem, utilizando os seguintes descritores/MeSHterms e palavras-chave: "self-medication" e (toothache or "dental pain") não Child. Resultados:A busca inicial encontrou61manuscritos. Quatorze artigos, de delineamento transversal,foram considerados elegíveis e incluídos para a revisão.Conclusões:A prevalência de automedicação para dor de dente variou de 6,5% a 100,0%. Fatores culturais e econômicos, barreiras de acesso, alto custo dos tratamentos odontológicos, falta de tempo e dinheiro e a percepção de que os problemas odontológicos não são um problema grave estão entre os principais fatores associados à prática. Em relação aos medicamentos utilizados, as classes mais utilizadas foram o paracetamol, principalmente os anti-inflamatórios, principalmente o ibuprofeno, e os analgésicos por via oral (AU).

Introducción: La automedicación consiste en seleccionar y utilizar medicamentos sin receta ni orientación de un profesional sanitario. Esta práctica ha sido ampliamente reportada a nivel mundial, lo que ha contribuido a una serie de resultados adversos para la salud, como retraso en el diagnóstico, empeoramiento de las condiciones clínicas, interacciones medicamentosas, intoxicaciones y reacciones adversas, que tienden a comprometer la seguridad del paciente.Objetivo: Analizar la prevalencia de automedicación asociada al dolor de muelas, los principales factores asociados a la automedicación en pacientes odontológicos, así como delinear el perfil de medicamentos utilizados por estos individuos, la vía de administración preferida y las principales fuentes de medicación. Metodología: Se desarrolló una revisión sistemática de acuerdo con los Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Se buscaron artículos relevantes publicados en los últimos diez años, sin limitaciones de idioma, utilizando los siguientes descriptores/MeSHterms y palabras clave: "self-medication" y (toothache or "dental pain") not Child. Resultados: La búsqueda inicial arrojó 61 manuscritos. Catorce artículos, todos estudios transversales, fueron elegibles para su inclusión en la revisión sistemática.Conclusiones: La prevalencia de automedicación para el dolor de muelas osciló entre 6,5% y 100,0%. Los factoresculturales y económicos, las barreras de acceso, el alto costo de los tratamientos dentales, la falta de tiempo y dinero, y la percepción de que los problemas dentales no son un problema grave se encuentran entre los principales factores asociados con la práctica. En cuanto a los fármacos utilizados, las clases más utilizadas fueron el paracetamol, especialmente los antiinflamatorios, especialmente el ibuprofeno, y los analgésicos por vía oral (AU).

Practices and drivers of self-medication with antibiotics among undergraduate medical students in Eastern Uganda: A cross-sectional study.

Self-medication with antibiotics remains one of the major drivers of antimicrobial resistance. Practices of self-medication among nursing and medical students have not been explored in our setting. This study sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with self-medication with antibiotics among undergraduate university students pursuing health-related courses in Eastern Uganda. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. The study was done among undergraduate students who were doing undergraduate programs in Nursing, Anesthesia, and medicine at Busitema University. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 326 participants. Descriptive statistics were used in data analysis. The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics was 93.8% (n = 300) of which 80% were either currently using self-medication or had self-medicated in the past six months. The common reasons for self-medication were the perception that it was a minor illness (55%), previous use of antibiotic (52%), a perception that they were health workers (50%), and the notion that they knew the right antibiotic for their condition (44%). Metronidazole (64%) and amoxicillin (65%) were the most commonly used antibiotics. Self-medication was most common for conditions such as peptic ulcer, diarrhea, and wound infections. Inappropriate drug use was common among participants on self-medication which occurred in the form of multiple use of antibiotics (64.4%, n = 194) and a tendency to switch to other antibiotics (58.5%) mostly because the former antibiotic was perceived not to be an effective treatment. The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics was high among medical students. Prior use of the antibiotic and having a minor illness were the most common drivers of self-medication. Public health strategies should address the high misuse of antibiotics among medical students to negate the likely consequence of antimicrobial resistance.

Prevalence and factors associated with self-medication for COVID-19 prevention using disproven drugs in Peru: a cross-sectional nationwide study

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and factors associated with the use of drugs without evidence for the prevention of COVID-19 in Peruvians without symptoms or diagnosis, using the National Household Survey (ENAHO) 2021. Methods: A secondary analysis was made of the ENAHO 2021. We evaluated participants older than 18 years who did not undergo any test to diagnose COVID-19 and used any drug to prevent COVID-19. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were estimated to determine the associated factors. Results: Among the 69,815 participants analyzed, the prevalence of taking a drug 4 weeks prior to the survey was 5.64%. Factors associated with drug consumption were: age 30-59 years (aPR 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32-1.65); having a higher education (aPR 1.73; 95% CI:1.28-2.33); having a chronic disease (aPR 1.40; 95% CI: 1.26-1.56); not having poverty status (aPR 1.40; 95% CI: 1.26-1.56); living in an urban area (aPR 1.61; 95% CI: 1.31-1.99). Meanwhile, living in the highlands (aPR 0.77; 95% CI: 0.60-0.97) and not having a landline, cell phone, television or internet at home (aPR 0.65; 95% CI: 0.43-0.98) were protective factors from unnecessary drug consumption. Conclusion: It is concerning that even after one year of living with the pandemic and having refuted the utility of medications such as ivermectin and azithromycin, these drugs are still widely consumed by a sector of the population without symptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate and implement public health measures that address this problem, taking into account the associated factors to reduce this consumption (AU)

A Review on the Health Impact of Self-medication for Malaria on Port Harcourt Residents.

Self-medication is a widespread public health issue that has continued to grow without ever reaching a level, both in wealthy and underdeveloped countries. Residents of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, have faced danger to their health from malaria, and because they have limited access to healthcare, the majority of them turn to self-medication to treat the disease. The study's goal was to ascertain how well-informed Port Harcourt citizens were of the negative effects of self-medication for malaria on their health. Self-medication was a common practice among the research population. However, their understanding of how self-medication for malaria affects health is not particularly strong. The findings and explanations show that this is reflected in their attitude and behavior regarding self-medicating behaviors. The vast majority of people think they can treat their cases of malaria by using symptoms, prior experiences, and a suitable diagnostic laboratory test to confirm the disease. The two biggest causes of self-medication were low income and a lack of health insurance, while other minor factors included a lack of healthcare facilities, high medicine prices, an inability to pay for medical bills, being near a hospital, and having a negative attitude towards physicians. The findings show that self-medication is continuing to rise and that it will continue to have an influence on malaria prevention and treatment in the study region unless the government and other people in positions of authority do something about it.

L'automédication est un problème de santé publique répandu qui n'a cessé de croître, tant dans les pays riches que dans les pays en développement. Les habitants de Port Harcourt, au Nigeria, sont confrontés à un danger pour leur santé en raison du paludisme et, en raison de leur accès limité aux soins de santé, la majorité d'entre eux ont recours à l'automédication pour traiter la maladie. L'objectif de l'étude était de déterminer dans quelle mesure les habitants de Port Harcourt étaient informés des effets négatifs de l'automédication pour le paludisme sur leur santé. L'automédication était une pratique courante parmi la population étudiée. Cependant, leur compréhension de la manière dont l'automédication pour le paludisme affecte la santé n'est pas particulièrement solide. Les résultats et les explications montrent que cela se reflète dans leur attitude et leur comportement en ce qui concerne les comportements d'automédication. La grande majorité des personnes pensent qu'elles peuvent traiter leurs cas de paludisme en utilisant les symptômes, les expériences antérieures et un test de laboratoire de diagnostic approprié pour confirmer la maladie. Les deux principales causes de l'automédication étaient le faible revenu et le manque d'assurance maladie, tandis que d'autres facteurs mineurs comprenaient le manque d'infrastructures de santé, le coût élevé des médicaments, l'incapacité à payer les factures médicales, la proximité d'un hôpital et une attitude négative envers les médecins. Les résultats montrent que l'automédication continue de progresser et qu'elle continuera d'avoir une influence sur la prévention et le traitement du paludisme dans la région étudiée, à moins que le gouvernement et d'autres personnes en position d'autorité ne fassent quelque chose à ce sujet. Mots-clés: Attitude et comportement, absence d'assurance maladie, faible revenu, santé publique.

Steroid-induced glaucoma: an avoidable cause of irreversible blindness.

A man in his 70s on regular follow-up with an ophthalmologist for 10 years presented with blurry vision in his right eye for 4 days. He was diagnosed with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) bilaterally 18 months earlier and treated with antiglaucoma eye-drops. On direct questioning, he admitted to using fixed combination tobramycin 0.3%/dexamethasone 0.1% eye-drops frequently to relieve ocular redness and discomfort in both eyes for 3.5 years without his ophthalmologist's knowledge. Examination disclosed markedly elevated IOP, advanced optic disc cupping and tunnel vision due to steroid-induced glaucoma bilaterally. After cessation of the eye-drops and 2 weeks of antiglaucoma therapy, his IOP returned to normal and his visual field remained stable for 4 years.Our case highlights the danger of habitual self-treatment of prescription medications containing corticosteroids and the importance of taking a detailed medication history in the diagnosis and management of steroid-induced glaucoma.

Consumption of Non-Prescribed Drugs in Portugal During the Pandemic in 2021.

Objectives: Portugal liberalised the over-the-counter drugs market in 2005 and provides universal healthcare coverage in a mainly Beveridge-type health system. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced healthcare to change how services were delivered, especially increasing remote consultations in primary care. This analysis aims to find the drivers for taking non-prescribed drugs during the pandemic in Portugal. Specifically, it seeks to understand the role of taking prescribed drugs and attending remote medical appointments in the self-medication decision. Methods: In this observational study, we used data collected during the pandemic in Centre Region of Portugal and estimated logistic regression for the whole sample and stratified by sex. Results: The main findings show that people taking prescribed medications and attending a remote consultation are more likely to take non-prescribed drugs. Also, reporting unmet healthcare needs seems to motivate people to choose self-medication. Conclusion: Policy implications are pointed out concerning the health risks raised from self-medication, the role of the pharmacist advising non-prescribed drugs, and the related health risks arising from unmet healthcare needs.

Prevalence and impacts of self-medication in a disadvantaged setting: the importance of multi-dimensional health interventions.

Background: Self-medication is recognized as an effective form of treatment and is increasingly encouraged to treat minor illnesses. However, misuse of self-medication leaves devastating impacts on human health and causes antimicrobial resistance. Using medication without a prescription among farmers could cause more severe effects on their health than non-farm workers since they suffer from several occupational hazards such as excessive exposure to pesticides. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 197 residents living in Moc Chau from August to September. A structured questionnaire and face-to-face were used to collecting data. The multivariate logistic model was applied to indicate associated factors with the self-medication. Results: The prevalence of self-medication among farmers was 67%. Pain relievers (66.7%) and antibiotics (32.5%) were the types of medicines that were the most commonly purchased and used without a medical prescription. Ethnics and health status also significantly affected the self-medication practice as well as the purchase and use of antibiotics. The distance to travel to a medical center and the dangerous or difficult travel, participants with arthritis or inpatient treatment had significantly associated with buying and using the medicine and antibiotics without the medical prescription of farmers. Conclusion: Our research highlights a considerably high prevalence of self-medication among farmers residing in the mountainous area of Vietnam. Individual factors such as ethnics, health status, distance to health centers, and dangerous or difficult travel were found to be related to the SM practice as well as the purchase and use of antibiotics. From that, the current study suggests interventions. For instance, official guidelines are needed to raise awareness and minimize the disadvantages of self-medication; and digital health technologies should be applied to reduce the gap in healthcare service between mountainous and other areas of Vietnam.

[Evaluation of self-medication practices and their characteristics among Uvira in Democratic Republic of Congo students]. / Evaluation des pratiques de l'automédication et leurs caractéristiques auprès des étudiants d'Uvira en République Démocratique du Congo.

Introduction: self-medication poses a threat to public health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate self-medication practices among Uvira students in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study based on an indirect interview of 700 students, using a self-administered survey questionnaire. Data were processed using XLSTAT. Results: according to the survey conducted on these 700 students, the prevalence of self-medication was 99.3% (n=695), of which 42.3% (n=294) started during adolescence. Of the total respondents, 57.4% (n=399) said they resorted to self-medication every time they fell ill and were short of money (n=471, 67.7%) for a consultation. The most commonly cited pathology encountered during this practice was malaria (n=212, 30.5%). Of all drugs used, paracetamol was in the first place (n=106, 15.3%) while the tablet was the form most used by these students (n=598, 86%). In terms of the drug combination, Fansidar-Coartem (n=106, 17.2%) was the most common; the dosage was age-dependent in 65.6% (n=456) of cases. This study also showed that 37.4% (n=695) of the students interviewed used phytotherapy, mainly to treat malaria (n=124, 47.3%). Conclusion: among Uvira students, self-medication is extremely used, especially against malaria. Efforts must be made by healthcare personnel in collaboration with policymakers to raise awareness about the rational use of medications, in order to better control and potentially eradicate this practice that is harmful to health.

Self-Medication for Toothache Causing Chemical Burn of Oral Mucosa and Alveolar Bone Loss in a Child.

Chemical burn of the oral mucosa can occur as a result of the inadvertent, intentional or iatrogenic use of chemicals. Self-treatment for toothache relief with nonpharma ceutical substances can result in a chemical burn. A detailed history is paramount in such cases to identify the etiologic agent to proceed with appropriate treatment. The purpose of this report is to describe the case of an eight-year-old with a complaint of toothache who rinsed his mouth with potassium aluminium sulfate solution to achieve pain relief. This caused ulceration of the attached gingiva and oral mucosa and necrosis of the alveolar bone surrounding the offending tooth, leading to its mobility. This case highlights the disastrous consequences of inappropriate self-treatment to achieve pain relief from toothache.

An online cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists to assess information needs for evidence-based self-medication counselling.

BACKGROUND: Community pharmacists play an important role in healthcare. They are frequently visited by patients to receive advice on self-medication products. Little research has been conducted to investigate pharmacists' information needs for evidence-based self-medication counselling. AIM: To assess community pharmacists' information needs in five predefined areas: general and specific individual needs, quality needs, utilisation needs, implication needs, and access needs for evidence based self-medication counselling. METHOD: After ethical approval, we conducted an exploratory, semi-quantitative, cross-sectional online survey. Members of three different chambers of pharmacists in Germany were invited to participate anonymously in the survey. They gave informed consent and received no incentive for their participation. Quantitative outcome: Frequency of relevance / importance of items within predefined information needs areas, except for access needs. Qualitative outcome: Open-text responses concerning all information needs. RESULTS: We analysed data from a total of 823 participants who completed the survey. General and specific information such as dosage (74.2% [611/823]) and when to refer to a physician (64.6% [532/823]) as well as an over-the-counter product's effectiveness according to medical guidelines (71.4% [588/823]) were rated as very important. Participants reported to prefer digital information sources (50.5% [416/823] strongly agreed), especially in the form of an easily accessible database (61.6% [507/823] strongly agreed) that contains regularly updated, manufacturer-independent, critically appraised, concise information. CONCLUSION: Community pharmacists expressed distinct information needs for evidence-based self-medication counselling. Further information services on essential evidence-based pharmacy knowledge may be necessary to support implementation.

Hábitos de consumo de medicamentos de venta libre por estudiantes del área de la salud en Cartagena-Colombia / Over-the-counter medication consumption habits in health students from Cartagena-Colombia / Hábitos de consumo de medicamentos isentos de prescrição por estudantes de saúde em Cartagena-Colômbia

Introducción: Los medicamentos de venta libre (OTC por su sigla en inglés Over The Counter), son ampliamente usados por la mayoría de las personas a nivel mundial, sin embargo, solamente son usados de forma responsable en países donde existe una farmacia comunitaria profesional legalizada. Objetivo: Describir los hábitos de consumo de medicamentos de venta libre por estudiantes universitarios del área de la salud. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal, desarrollado en tres universidades de Cartagena. Se aplicó un instrumento tipo encuesta a 140 estudiantes acerca de hábitos de consumo y conocimiento sobre OTC, creencias, actitudes y prácticas. Resultados: El cuestionario presentó una consistencia interna alta con Alfa de Cronbach'sde 0,77. El 59% fueron mujeres, las en edades entre 16-30 años, el 91% estuvo de acuerdo que la automedicación es perjudicial. Sin embargo, 61% asegura automedicarse porque los padecimientos son menores y frecuentes. Los medicamentos de mayor consumo, fueron el acetaminofén 52,9% y los medicamentos antiinflamatorios no esteroides (AINES) con 16,48%, incluyeron en sus respuestas medicamentos de no venta libre. Conclusión: Los estudiantes son conscientes del riesgo de la automedicación, sin embargo, la practican de forma frecuente. Muchos reportaron consumo de medicamentos como amitriptilina, antibióticos, opiáceos, furosemida y corticoides.

Introduction: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are widely used worldwide, however they are responsibly used only in countries with legalized professional community pharmacies. Objective:To describe over-the-counter medication use habits in university students from health programs. Materials and methods:Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in three universities from Cartagena. A survey-type instrument was applied to 140 students, asking about their use habits and knowledge regarding OTC, beliefs, attitudes and practices. Results:The questionnaire showed a high internal inconsistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.77. 59% of participants were women aged between 16 to 30 years old and 91% agreed that self-medication is harmful. Nevertheless, 61% self-medicated because of minor and frequent conditions. OTC medications with the highest use were acetaminophen (52.9%) and NSAIDs (16.48%). Conclusions:Even though students are aware of the self-medication risks, they still practice it frequently. Many participants reported the use of medications such as amitriptyline, antibiotics, opioids, furosemide, and corticosteroids.

Introdução:Os medicamentos isentos de prescrição (OTCOver The Counter) são amplamente utilizados pela maioria das pessoas em todo o mundo, porém somente são usados de forma responsável em países onde existe uma farmácia comunitária profissional legalizada. Objetivo: Descrever os hábitos de consumo de medicamentos isentos de prescrição por universitários da área da saúde. Materiais e métodos: Estudo descritivo transversal, desenvolvido em três universidades de Cartagena. Foi aplicado um instrumento do tipo inquérito a 140 alunos sobre hábitos de consumo e conhecimentos sobre OTC, crenças, atitudes e práticas. Resultados: O questionário apresentou alta consistência interna com Alfa de Cronbach ́sde 0,77. 59% eram mulheres, com idades entre 16 e 30 anos, 91% concordaram que a automedicação é prejudicial. No entanto, 61% dizem que se automedicam porque os males são leves e frequentes. Os medicamentos de maior consumo foram o acetaminofeno 52,9% e os anti-inflamatórios não esteroidais com 16,48%, incluindo medicamentos isentos de prescrição em suas respostas. Conclusão: Os alunos estão cientes do risco da automedicação, porém isto é praticado com frequência. Muitos relataram consumo de medicamentos como amitriptilina, antibióticos, opioides, furosemida e corticosteroides.