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Self-Medication during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: Findings and Implications to Promote the Rational Use of Medicines

Author

Listed:
  • Patrícia Silva Bazoni

    (Pharmaceutical Services Graduate Program, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil
    Health Technology Assessment and Economy Group, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil)

  • Ronaldo José Faria

    (Pharmaceutical Services Graduate Program, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil
    Health Technology Assessment and Economy Group, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil)

  • Francisca Janiclecia Rezende Cordeiro

    (Health Technology Assessment and Economy Group, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil)

  • Élida da Silva Timóteo

    (Health Technology Assessment and Economy Group, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil)

  • Alciellen Mendes da Silva

    (Health Technology Assessment and Economy Group, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil)

  • Ana Luisa Horsth

    (Health Technology Assessment and Economy Group, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil)

  • Eduardo Frizzera Meira

    (Health Technology Assessment and Economy Group, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil)

  • Jéssica Barreto Ribeiro dos Santos

    (Health Technology Assessment and Economy Group, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil)

  • Michael Ruberson Ribeiro da Silva

    (Pharmaceutical Services Graduate Program, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil
    Health Technology Assessment and Economy Group, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Brazil)

Abstract

Self-medication is identified by the consumption of medications without a prescription or guidance from a qualified prescribing professional. This study estimated the prevalence, profile, and associated factors with self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a household survey in the Alegre city, from November to December 2021. Descriptive analysis was performed for the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the interviewees. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to identify the association of sociodemographic and clinical variables with self-medication. A total of 654 people were interviewed, of whom 69.4% were self-medicating. The younger age group (PR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.01–1.26), female gender (PR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.04–1.37), consumption of alcoholic beverages (PR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.01–1.25), and problems with adherence to pharmacological treatment (PR = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.04–1.28) were associated with self-medication, while the occurrence of polypharmacy (PR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.68–0.95) was a protective factor for self-medication. Self-medication was directly related to over-the-counter drugs, with analgesics dipyrone and paracetamol being the most commonly used. Self-medication consumption of prescription drugs, including those under special control, was identified to a lesser extent.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrícia Silva Bazoni & Ronaldo José Faria & Francisca Janiclecia Rezende Cordeiro & Élida da Silva Timóteo & Alciellen Mendes da Silva & Ana Luisa Horsth & Eduardo Frizzera Meira & Jéssica Barreto Ri, 2023. "Self-Medication during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: Findings and Implications to Promote the Rational Use of Medicines," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-11, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:12:p:6143-:d:1172340
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eduardo Sánchez-Sánchez & Fátima Lucía Fernández-Cerezo & Jara Díaz-Jimenez & Manuel Rosety-Rodriguez & Antonio Jesús Díaz & Francisco Javier Ordonez & Miguel Ángel Rosety & Ignacio Rosety, 2021. "Consumption of over-the-Counter Drugs: Prevalence and Type of Drugs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-12, May.
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