Prevalence study of self-medication in a touristic population done by a community pharmacy

Abstract

Objectives: Analyzing the practice of self-medication in a tourist town in the South of Gran Canaria. Methods: Prevalence study of self-medication in a community pharmacy in San Bartolome de Tirajana. The total during the months from February to December 2008 was 300 surveys of the persons who went to the pharmacy. Features sociodemographic information was collected (age, employment status), features self-medication (type of medication, treated symptoms, reason not going to the doctor, etc.) and general knowledge about used medications (possible adverse effects, reading the prospectuses, knowledge or potential effects with chronic medication). Results: Saw a 69.3% self-medication. The individuals less than 45 years of age and foreigners are the one of the most engaged in this type of practice. The primary symptoms treated were pain (58.2%), fever (16%) and cough (13%). For the group of analgesic drugs and NSAIDs accounted for 62% of consumption. The request was the most common way to acquire the medicine, not receiving any information on a 72% of cases by the pharmacy. The 54.3% is not necessary to see a doctor and 39.4% recommended medication and a family member or friend in a 26.9% of cases prescriptions made out by the doctor in the past. The 54.8% of respondents obtained information from the medicine through the prospectuses and 51.4% said to know the side effects. The 37% of those suffering from self chronic health problems, basically hypertension and diabetes were the most abundant. 37% of the cases suffering from health problems, 76.6% were unaware of the potential interactions between medications. Conclusions: Self-medication is a common practice among the population, especially among foreigners and persons under 45 years of age. The common symptom of self-medication is pain and NSAIDs are the common medicines most used. The direct application in pharmacies is very common and the listing of medicines, constitutes an important source of information. The most persons considered good or very good practice.