THE IMPACT OF SELF-MEDICATION WITH NSAIDS / ANALGESICS IN A NORTH-EASTERN REGION OF ROMANIA
IOANA DANA ALEXA1, ADRIANA GABRIELA PANCU2, ANCA IULIANA MOROŞANU1, CRISTINA MIHAELA GHICIUC1, CĂTĂLINA LUPUŞORU1, GABRIEL IOAN PRADA3*, VASILE CEPOI1
1.University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa" Iasi
2.Clinical Hospital “Dr. C. I. Parhon” Iasi
3.University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucuresti
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Self-medication is a widespread practice to treat health problems, being involved
in delayed diagnosis, worsening of disease evolution and the occurrence of adverse effects.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of the use of analgesics,
anti-inflammatory and antipyretic form of medicines as self-medication in a population
group in the North-eastern Romania (rural versus urban areas) and medical reasons for their
administration. The questionnaire method was applied to two groups of people in rural and
urban areas from north-eastern Romania. Study duration was six months (August 2013 -
March 2014), while self-medication was monitored. The study was approved by the Ethics
Committee of UMF "Gr. T. Popa" Iasi. Our study included 461 people aged between 20
and 90 years old, of which 55.3% were from urban areas versus 44.7% from rural areas,
females being dominant (75.5%). The drugs we tracked were used by 84.8% of the
surveyed population, in most cases the administration being made without prior
professional advice. Of the 281 participants from urban areas, 92 % have turned to selfmedication,
compared with 52.11% in rural areas. Paracetamol (46.6%), ibuprofen (30.4%)
and metamizole (12.7%) are among the most widely used analgesics, both in urban and
rural areas. The most frequent symptoms that required self-medication were: headache
(urban and rural areas), respiratory disorders (predominantly urban) and osteo-articular
problems (rural areas). Misuse of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, especially in
urban areas is an important concern for health care services, thus necessitating the
implementation of national programs to inform and educate the population on the risks of
self-medication.