Automedicación y factores predisponentes en la farmacia comunitaria Farmasol “Santa Teresita” de la ciudad de Cuenca durante el periodo octubre-diciembre 2016

Abstract

The objective of the present project was to determine the prevalence of self-medication according to demographic variables and identify predisposing factors, signs and symptoms, drugs consumed without medical prescription by the population in the Farmasol Community Pharmacy "Santa Teresita" during the period October-December 2016. Conducted an observational, descriptive and prospective study, for which a validated survey was used and applied to 1255 people. Data tabulation, the Microsoft Excel program was used applying descriptive statistics and STATA. Most of the people who participated in the study were self-medicated, corresponding to the age group “over 65 years old” (21,5%), the female gender was the most self-medicated with 58,6%; the most frequent symptoms and signs were muscular pains (17,7%), pain and stomachache (13,5%), and headache (12,5%). The main pathology related with self-medication was arterial hypertension (12,6%). The group of drugs mainly consumed were anti-inflammatory drugs 18,6%; drugs used to treat arterial hypertension 11,6%; and vitamins and combinations 7,6%. The main reasons that motivated self-medication were continuous medication (chronic disease) 26,2% and previous prescription given by a physician 23,0%. In conclusion, the population in spite of knowing the risks that the self-medication can cause does it ignoring them, for that reason the education to the patient on the part of health professionals must be opportune.