Prevalence, profile and factors associated with self-medication in adolescents and employees of a professionalizing public school

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the prevalence, profile and factors associated with self-medication in the population of the Federal Institute of Minas Gerais (Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais) - Ouro Preto. Method This is a cross-sectional study, in which a questionnaire was applied to students and staff of the Institution addressing issues such as socioeconomic status, general characteristics, self-reported health condition, medication used in the previous 15 days, use of prescription and over-the-counter medication. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the factors associated with self-medication. Results 270 individuals were interviewed, 231 students and 39 employees. The prevalence of self-medication was 69.3% (95%CI 63.6-74.6), analgesics being the main pharmacological class used. The factors associated with self-medication were: to use medicine influenced by advertising (PR = 1.2; 95%CI = 1.1-1.4); the practice of indicating medication (PR = 1.4; 95%CI = 1.1-1.6); self-reported health status very good/good (PR = 0.8; 95%CI = 0.6-0.9), and having the last medical appointment for more than a month (RP = 1.5; 95%CI= 1.1-2.1). Conclusion These factors reinforce the importance of access to medical consultations and awareness actions of the rational use of medicines.

摘要 研究目的：评估米纳斯吉拉斯联邦理工学院（Federal Institute of Minas Gerais）欧鲁普雷图校区人群自我药疗的流行率、特征及相关影响因素。研究方法：本研究为横断面研究，向该机构的学生与教职工发放问卷，调研内容涵盖社会经济状况、基本人口特征、自我报告的健康状况、近15日内使用的药物、处方药与非处方药使用情况等。采用泊松回归（Poisson regression）分析自我药疗的相关影响因素。研究结果：共访谈270名研究对象，其中学生231名、教职工39名。自我药疗的流行率为69.3%（95%置信区间：63.6~74.6），镇痛类药物为最主要使用的药理学类别。与自我药疗相关的影响因素包括：受广告影响用药（患病率比PR=1.2；95%置信区间：1.1~1.4）、主动为他人推荐用药（PR=1.4；95%置信区间：1.1~1.6）、自我报告健康状况为极佳/良好（PR=0.8；95%置信区间：0.6~0.9），以及末次就医时间超过1个月（PR=1.5；95%置信区间：1.1~2.1）。研究结论：上述影响因素凸显了保障就医可及性以及开展药物合理使用宣教行动的重要性。