Self-medication Frequency in Patients Assigned to the Family Medicine Department at a General Hospital in Hidalgo, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: to determine the frequency of self-medication in a population from 18 to 70 years old assigned to the Family Medicine department of the General Hospital no. 1 in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. Methods: cross-sectional and descriptive study in a sample of 113 patients, who were surveyed in the Family Medicine out-patient waiting rooms. To calculate the sample size it was used the proportion of finite populations. The questionnaire applied included socio-demographic questions, frequency of self-medication practice, and types of medication, reasons, and the factors that influence it. Results: prevalence of self-medication was 87.61%. The sample was represented by 66.37% of women. The main reason of self-medication was that the disease was not considered serious in 57%; the most commonly used drugs were pain relievers in 84.85%; headache was the main symptom for self-medication in 60.61%, followed by flu and sore throat. It was identified that 64.65% does not know the adverse effects of the medication consumed. Conclusion: frequency of self-medication in the analyzed population was very high, which leads to significant health risks. It is necessary to create strategies to avoid or reduce this practice.