The prevalence and characterization of self-medication for obtaining pain relief among undergraduate nursing students

Abstract

This study investigates the prevalence of self-medication among undergraduate nursing students seeking to relieve pain and characterizes the pain and relief obtained through the used medication. This epidemiological and cross-sectional study was carried out with 211 nursing students from a public university in Goiás, GO, Brazil. A numerical scale (0-10) measured pain intensity and relief. The prevalence of self-medication was 38.8%. The source and main determining factor of this practice were the student him/herself (54.1%) and lack of time to go to a doctor (50%), respectively. The most frequently used analgesic was dipyrone (59.8%) and pain relief was classified as good (Md=8.5;Max=10;Min=0).The prevalence of self-medication was higher than that observed in similar studies. Many students reported that relief obtained through self-medication was good, a fact that can delay the clarification of a diagnosis and its appropriate treatment.Descriptors: Pain; Self Medication; Students, Nursing. Prevalencia y caracterización de la práctica de automedicación para alivio del dolor entre estudiantes universitarios de enfermeríaLos objetivos de este estudio fueron estimar la prevalencia de automedicación entre estudiantes universitarios de enfermería con dolor y caracterizar la experiencia dolorosa y el alivio obtenido por medio de los fármacos utilizados. Se trata de un estudio epidemiológico seccional, del cual participaron 211 estudiantes de una universidad pública de Goiás, en Brasil. El dolor y el alivio fueron medidos por medio de una Escala Numérica (0-10). La prevalencia de automedicación fue de 38,8%. La fuente generadora y los factores determinantes prevalentes de esta práctica fueron el propio estudiante (54,1%) y la falta de tiempo para ir al médico (50%), respectivamente. La dipirona fue el analgésico más utilizado (59,8%) y el alivio del dolor clasificado como bueno (Md=8,5;Máx=10;Mín=0). La prevalencia de la automedicación fue mayor que aquella observada en estudios semejantes y para muchos estudiantes el alivio fue bueno, hecho que puede retardar la elucidación del diagnóstico y del tratamiento adecuado del dolor.

Factores económicos, sociales y culturales asociados con automedicación

“…The reasons given for self-medicating included barriers to healthcare access, "lack of time" and difficulties in securing a medical consultation due to "administrative delays"; other reasons that have been found in international studies were also reported by our sample, including economic factors, repetitive prescription patterns in primary health consultations and a negative perception of the healthcare system (8,10,15,(20)(21)(22)(23). The WHO has considered these motives when designing strategies to encourage responsible self-medication (24).…”

Automedicação em estudantes de enfermagem do Estado do Amazonas – Brasil

“…National studies carried out in the most economically affluent regions and with restrictions on the sample eligibility criteria -students with pain only in the 8 th semester -show that self-medication was practiced by 38.8% of the students with pain and 65.1% of the students of the 8 th semester (2,8) . In both cases, the limited inclusion criteria may have contributed to the lower prevalence.…”

“…The self-confidence of healthcare students, success in previous experiences, and the belief that the knowledge acquired during their education enables them to select the correct medicine for the ailment, may have contributed to the practice of self-medication (2,4,6) . The lack of time to see a doctor is one of the main reason Brazilian students self-medicate, and that includes the students of Coari (6) .…”

“…In Brazil, although previous studies conducted in large urban centres found that self-medication among nurses is frequent (2,8,10) , the magnitude of the phenomenon is unknown in the North region. The geographical dimensions, limited access to health services, the influence of the indigenous culture on the habits of the population, especially with regard to the use of medicinal plants, are very specific aspects that can influence the decision to self-medicate among future nurses.…”

“…Self-medication is a frequent practice in many age groups and in different cultures, and is defined as a person's spontaneous selection and use of any medicine considered appropriate to remedy their own health problem (1)(2)(3) . This practice can cause inappropriate antimicrobial resistance, adverse reactions to drugs, drug interactions, the risk of masking evolutionary diseases, and increase costs for the health system (1) .…”