Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Resumo
Introdução: A automedicação é uma prática
frequente e, atualmente é um fenómeno em desenvolvimento
crescente. Os objetivos deste estudo foram estimar a
prevalência da automedicação em jovens e adultos da região
centro de Portugal, caracterizar a prática de automedicação e
identificar fatores associados à automedicação.
Métodos: Realizámos um estudo analítico e
transversal. A colheita de dados foi efetuada com recurso a um
questionário, autoaplicado e respondido online, a indivíduos
residentes na região centro de Portugal com idades ≥ 16 anos.
A amostra ficou constituída por 182 indivíduos, com uma
média de idades de 33,88±12,62 anos, sendo a maioria do género feminino (66,5%). As prevalências foram expressas em
percentagens. Para comparação de proporções utilizou-se o
teste qui quadrado e a magnitude de associação entre um fator
e a condição foi estimada através do cálculo do odds ratios,
com os respetivos intervalos de confiança a 95%.
Resultados: Verificámos que a prevalência de
automedicação ao longo da vida foi de 85,7%, e, nos últimos 6
meses, de 85,9%. A maioria da amostra (50,3%) referiu que
pratica automedicação por iniciativa própria, sendo os
medicamentos mais utilizados os analgésicos (78,8%) e os
anti-inflamatórios (54,5%), salientando que 7,1% dos
indivíduos referiu que se automedica com antibióticos. O local
de aquisição mais frequente dos medicamentos foi a farmácia
(82,5%) e, grande parte dos indivíduos (92,3%), afirma ter
conhecimento dos riscos dos medicamentos. A prática da
automedicação associou-se com a idade (≤ 25 anos OR=1,28;
IC95% 1,16-1,41) e com o agregado familiar com filhos
(OR=4,77; IC95% 1,94-11,71).
Conclusão: Concluímos que a automedicação é uma
prática muito frequente entre os jovens e adultos da região
centro de Portugal, associando-se a idades mais jovens e aos
agregados familiares com filhos.
Abstract Background: Self-medication is a common practice and currently is a phenomenon in increasing development. The aims of this study consisted in estimating the prevalence and characterize self-medication among adolescents and adults of the Central region of Portugal and identify the socio-demographic variables that are associated with self-medication. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed. For data collection we used an online self-administered questionnaire, which was applied to individuals resident in the central region of Portugal, obtaining a final sample of 182 individuals with the average age of 33.88±12.62 years, higher among female gender (66.5%). Prevalences were expressed in percentages. Proportions were compared using the Chi-square test and the magnitude of association between risk factor and condition was estimated by odds ratio, with the respective 95% confidence interval. Results: The prevalence of self-medication during life was 86.7% and in the last six months 85.9%. The majority of the sample (50.3%) referred the practice of self-medication on their own initiative, and the most used drugs were painkillers (78.8%), anti-inflammatories (54.5%) and antibiotics (7.1%). Most of the drugs were acquired in the pharmacy (82.5%) and 92.3% affirm having knowledge about the risks that the medicine they have self-medicated with may cause. The practice of self-medication is associated with age (≤ 25 years OR=1.28; 95%CI 1.16-1.41) and families with children households (OR=4.77; 95%CI 1.94-11.71). Conclusion: Self-medication is a very common practice among young people and adults in the central region of Portugal, which is associated with younger ages and families with children households.
Abstract Background: Self-medication is a common practice and currently is a phenomenon in increasing development. The aims of this study consisted in estimating the prevalence and characterize self-medication among adolescents and adults of the Central region of Portugal and identify the socio-demographic variables that are associated with self-medication. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed. For data collection we used an online self-administered questionnaire, which was applied to individuals resident in the central region of Portugal, obtaining a final sample of 182 individuals with the average age of 33.88±12.62 years, higher among female gender (66.5%). Prevalences were expressed in percentages. Proportions were compared using the Chi-square test and the magnitude of association between risk factor and condition was estimated by odds ratio, with the respective 95% confidence interval. Results: The prevalence of self-medication during life was 86.7% and in the last six months 85.9%. The majority of the sample (50.3%) referred the practice of self-medication on their own initiative, and the most used drugs were painkillers (78.8%), anti-inflammatories (54.5%) and antibiotics (7.1%). Most of the drugs were acquired in the pharmacy (82.5%) and 92.3% affirm having knowledge about the risks that the medicine they have self-medicated with may cause. The practice of self-medication is associated with age (≤ 25 years OR=1.28; 95%CI 1.16-1.41) and families with children households (OR=4.77; 95%CI 1.94-11.71). Conclusion: Self-medication is a very common practice among young people and adults in the central region of Portugal, which is associated with younger ages and families with children households.
Description
Keywords
Automedicação Jovem Adulto Epidemiologia Self medication Adult Young Epidemiology
Citation
Amaral, Odete; Lages, Adriana; Sousa, Liliana; Almeida, Lúcia; Santos, Juliana; Dias, Mariana; Silva, Daniel & Pereira, Carlos(2014). Automedicação em Jovens e Adultos da Região Centro de Portugal. Millenium, 47 (jun/dez). Pp. 97‐109