[Medicine consumption in the adult population: Influence of self-medication]

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the factors associated with medicine consumption and self-consumption in Aragón (Spain)

Design: Cross-sectional study from the National Health Survey 2006.

Setting: Aragón (Spain).

Participants: Adult population in Aragón (Spain).

Main measurements: Medicine consumption and the type of consumption. Demographic, health and health style variables were also considered.

Results: At least one drug was taken by the 65.1% of the adults in Aragón during the previous two weeks. Of this group, 11.7% were self-medicated. A higher frequency of consumption was observed in females and older people, and in those with a poor self-perceived health. People with a low educational level took drugs more often, but self-consumption was more frequent in the group with a high educational level.

Conclusions: Medicine consumption and self-consumption in adults in Aragón is common. It is of great interest to know the consumption profile of these patients in order to develop specific interventions to reduce unnecessary consumption and to improve safety.

Keywords: Autoconsumo; Drug utilization; Encuestas de salud; Farmacoepidemiología; Health surveys; Pharmacoepidemiology; Prevalence; Prevalencia; Self-consumption; Utilización de medicamentos.

Esquema del estudio: Estudio transversal a través del cuestionario de adultos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud de 2006. Se analiza la población residente en Aragón (con respuesta válida) en función del consumo de medicamentos en las últimas dos semanas, diferenciándose entre consumo con o sin receta.

Figura 1

Porcentaje de población según el tipo de consumo de medicamentos entre aquellos que habían consumido algún fármaco en los 15 días previos, por provincias.