Between knowledge and risk: The reality of self-medication among health science undergraduate students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i10.49690Keywords:
Rational Use of Medications, Drugs, Prescription, Health Professionals, Teaching and learning.Abstract
Introduction: Self-medication is a highly prevalent practice in Brazil. However, when carriedout improperly, it can become a serious problem, leading to undesirable consequences.Objective: To assess the risks associated with self-medication among undergraduate Dentistrystudents at Parana University (UNIPAR), in Cascavel, Paraná.Methods: This cross-sectional, original study employed a digital questionnaire addressing theuse of medications without medical prescription among students enrolled in health-relatedcourses at UNIPAR.Results: A total of 303 students participated, 77.22% of whom were female, with the majoritybetween 18 and 24 years old (80.85%). Among them, 51.72% reported frequentself-medication and 41.37% occasional use, totaling over 90% of respondents, in line withfindings from other studies. The most common symptom prompting self-medication washeadache, and the most frequently used drugs included analgesics, antipyretics, andanti-inflammatory agents, due to ease of access. The main influencing factors were advicefrom friends, neighbors, and relatives (84.15%), as well as media advertising (37.62%). Although 63.69% of participants reportedbeing aware of the risks, 22.44% experienced adverse reactions, most frequently headache(15%) and drowsiness (19.14%). The main sources of information were family members andpharmacists.Conclusion: The findings reinforce that, despite its frequency, self-medication posessignificant risks, including drug resistance, harmful interactions, and worsening of clinicalconditions. These results highlight the urgent need for educational campaigns and stricterregulatory measures to reduce this practice.
References
Amaral, R. S. (2011). A prática da automedicação em alunos da EAJA em Escolas Municipaisda Região Leste de Goiânia –GO. Monografia (Curso de Especialização em TecnologiasAplicadas ao Ensino de Biologia), Goiânia Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, UniversidadeFederal de Goiás.
Aquino, D. (2008). A automedicação e os acadêmicos da área de saúde. https://www.scielo.br/j/csc/a/kB6LHkhwPXqbz7QtmHJHQvz/?format=pdf&lang=pt.
Araújo Jr., J. C. & Vicentini, G. E.(2007). Automedicação em adultos na cidade de Guairaçá –PR. Arq. Ciênc. Saúde UNIPAR. 11(2). 83-8.
Behzadifar, M. (2020). Prevalence of self-medication in university students: systematic review and meta-analysis. 26(7):846-57. oi: 10.26719/emhj.20.052.
Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. (1998). Portaria nº 3.916, de 30 de outubro de 1998. Aprova a Política Nacional de Medicamentos. Diário Oficial da União, 215(1), 18. Recuperado em 18 de setembro de 2025, de https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/1998/prt3916_30_10_1998.html
Burak, L. J. & Damico, A. (2000). College students’ use of widely advertised medications. J Am Coll Health. 49(3), 118-21.
Costa Junior, V. S., Oliveira, A. L. R., & Amorim, A. T. (2022). Automedicação influenciada pela mídia no Brasil. Research, Society and Development, 11(8), e11011830678. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i8.30678
Cruz, E. de S., Silva, J., Augusto, V., & Coelho, A. (2019). Incidência da automedicação entre jovens universitários da área da saúde e de humanas [Incidence of self-medication among university students in health and humanities]. Revista Saúde UniToledo, 3(1), 2–12.
Domingues, P. H. F., Galvão, T. F., Andrade, K. R. C., Sá, P. T. T., Silva, M. T., & Pereira, M. G. (2015). Prevalence of self-medication in the adult population of Brazil: A systematic review. Revista de Saúde Pública, 49, 36. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005709
Domingues, Paulo Henrique Faria, Galvão, Taís Freire, Andrade, Keitty Regina Cordeiro de, Araújo, Paula Caetano, Silva, Marcus Tolentino, & Pereira, Maurício Gomes. (2017). Prevalência e fatores associados à automedicação em adultos no Distrito Federal: estudo transversal de base populacional. Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde, 26(2), 319-330. https://dx.doi.org/10.5123/s1679-49742017000200009
Instituto de Ciência, Tecnologia e Qualidade. (2022, 12 de junho). Pesquisa do ICTQ sobre automedicação é pauta de matéria especial em jornal de grande relevância em MG. ICTQ.
Katzung, B. G. (2005). Farmacologia básica e clínica. (9.ed). Editora Guanabara Koogan.
Kedouk, M. (2016). Tarja preta: Os segredos que os médicos não contam sobre os remédios que você toma. São Paulo, SP: Abril.
Lima, A. B. D. (1995). Interações Medicamentosas. v.1. Editora SENAC.
Loyola Filho, A. I. et al. (2002). Prevalência e fatores associados à automedicação: resultados do projeto Bambuí. Rev. Saúde Públ. 36(2), 205-12.
Oliveira, M. S. (2020). A interferência da propaganda na automedicação: Uma revisão de literatura (Monografia de Graduação). Faculdade Maria Milza.
Pereira, A. S. et al. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. [free ebook]. Santa Maria. Editora da UFSM.
Príncipe, F., Oliveira, A. S. C., Silva, D., Silva, D. & Silva, T. (2020). Automedicação nos estudantes do ensino superior da saúde. Revista de Investigação & Inovação em Saúde. 3(2), 21–8. Doi: 10.37914/riis.v3i2.82. https://riis.essnortecvp.pt/index.php/RIIS/article/view/82.
Shitsuka, R. et al. (2014)./ Matemática fundamental para a tecnologia. (2.ed.). Editora Éri
Simões, M. S. J. & Farache F. A. (1988). Consumo de medicamentos em região do estado de São Paulo (Brasil).Rev.Saúde Públ. 32, 43-9.
WHO. (2000). Guidelines for the regulatory assesment of medicinal products for use in self-medication. Geneva. WHO.
Zubioli, A. (2000). O Farmacêutico e a automedicação responsável. Pharmacia Brasileira.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Maria Eduarda Oenning Zaniolo, Mariana Cielo Pedrini, Anna Julia Mazzo De Oliveira, Talita Zaquette Camero, Barbara Sackser Horvath
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
