Indiscriminate use of over-the-counter medications and their possible adversities among students of the Medical School of the María Serrana Private University in the year of 2019

Abstract

Self-medication is determined by the use of medications chosen by the patient or by indications received from friends and family. The indiscriminate use of over-the-counter medications is a public health problem that has become routine for many people of various ages, since they have no idea about the risks. The objective was to determine the use of over-the-counter medications and their adversities in students of the Medicine Career of the María Serrana Private University in Asunción. The study was quantitative descriptive transectional. The study included 79 students of both sexes, of whom 69 self-medicated and 10 did not use erroneous drugs. 70% of the respondents are male and 30% female. Both, with an average age of 19 and 40 years. Showing that 19% with 19 years old, 51% between 21 and 25 years old, 21% between 25 and 30 years old, 12% between 30 and 35 years old and 0% of those between 35- and 40-years old use medication without a prescription. 22% amoxicillin, 18% acetaminophen and 15% azithromycin were used in the analysis of the most used drugs, although knowledge of the risks of use without unregulated criteria governed 81% of the participants. In addition, 60 of the participants reported external interference for initiation of drug ingestion, 12 did not ingest drugs without external interference, and 7 did not confirm external interference. The most widely used drugs indicated 22% amoxicillin, 18% acetaminophen and 15% azithromycin, with 81% of the participants knowing about the risks of use without.