Automedicação em idosos de grupo de terceira idade do município de Currais Novos - RN.

Abstract

Self-medication is the act of purchasing medication without prescription to relieve symptoms or treat a disease. But often the misuse of self-medication can bring harm one's health, especially when dealing with the elderly, because they have a different physiology and are often polymedicated. Thus the study aimed to characterize the profile social, health and identify factors related to self-medication and the elderly group of seniors in the city of CurraisNovos, RN. To that end, we conducted an exploratory, descriptive and cross, from March to June 2012 with 50 elderly members of the Grupo de IdososClube Nova Vida – Centro de ConvivênciaAmáliaBezerra, inCurraisNovos, RN. Thus, it was observed that most seniors who self-medicated were female (94.0%). The situations of pain (64.0%) were the most frequent complaints that led to self-medication. Previous experience is constituted as the main reason for the choice of medication (38.0%). The pharmacy trade (78.0%) was the main place of purchase of medicines. The study found self-medication among elderly people and thus it is necessary to develop activities that educate them about the risks of this practice.