Perfil de automedicação em estudantes da área da saúde

Abstract

Introduction: Self-medication, a common practice among the general population, is also prevalent among students in the health field, who have greater access to knowledge about medications. This behavior may be influenced by the intense workload and easy access to medications, which raises concerns about the risks involved, such as adverse reactions and inappropriate use of drugs. The use of over-the-counter medications is underestimated, which, although accessible without a prescription, are not free of health risks. Objective: This study aims to analyze the factors that influence the practice of self-medication among students of Nursing and Medicine courses at a federal university. Method: This is a quantitative-qualitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study with 89 students duly enrolled in Nursing and Medicine courses. The exclusion criterion was being under 18 years of age. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, which addressed the profile of students and their self-medication practices. Results: All participants reported using non-prescription drugs at some point in their lives, and 89.9% confirmed this practice in the last 30 days. The main medication classes were antipyretics (70.6%), analgesics (67.1%) and anti-inflammatories (40%). The main factors that motivated the use of drugs were easy access to non-prescription drugs (79.8%), self-confidence (56.2%) and lack of time for medical appointments (50.6%). Conclusion: Self-medication is widely practiced among health students on Nursing and Medicine courses at a federal university, driven by easy access and a demanding academic routine. Although many believe that the use of common drugs is safe, there is concern about the inappropriate use of substances such as antibiotics and psychotropic drugs.