Automedicação em idosos de uma cidade do alto sertão da Paraíba.

Abstract

The practice of self-medication among the elderly has increased sharply today. Self-medication refers to the use of drugs on their own, when it perceives the symptom. The study aimed to investigate the practice of self-medication among the elderly, seeking to identify which group of drug most used by this population, the reasons for which these drugs are used without a prescription and find out how to access and use of these drugs. To meet the proposed objectives, we chose a cross-sectional quantitative study, conducted in the hinterland of Paraíba, in the city of Cajazeiras. Conducted with 30 individuals who sought care at the Basic Health Unit (BHU) St. Joseph / PAPS during July and August 2012. The data revealed that 60% of seniors were female and were older than 60 years, these 46.7% were illiterate and 53.3% married, 33.3% live with a spouse and 50% had a monthly income of 2 -3 minimum wages, 100% of participants reported doing some medication at the time, these 96.6% were using self-medication, all said they feel a pain to take the medication that they are now usual, 76.6 % never go to the doctor when they feel pain, 53.3% do not understand the medical recommendations, 83.3% use self-medication because they already know the drug in question, 80% made use of nonprescription medication a week before the survey, the group of non-prescription drug most commonly used among elderly are painkillers with 36.6% followed by 34.6% anti-inflammatories, 76.6% said they need a medical leave of carrying a prescription, 73.3% reported asking for the doctor to prescribe some medication if it does not pass, the most common symptom is to achieve self-medication pain 45.315%, 26.56% followed by fever, cough, 7.81%, 7.81 heartburn %, 4.69% allergy, diarrhea and nausea 4.69% 3.125% when they were asked about how they know the doses of medications without prescription 33.3% said they were doing an average by age, ie, the higher the age the higher the dose , 33.3% reused one previous prescription, 20% reported to average by weight, ie the greater the weight the greater the dose. According to the present study, we note that self-medication is a major public health problem in Brazil and in need of information measures and health education in order to inform the population about the risks of this practice. Note also the importance of the relationship funneling health professional - patient in order to improve the understanding of their disease and its treatment.