Determinación de factores asociados a la práctica de automedicación en estudiantes del área de salud y población adulta mayor del Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction: Self-medication involves the use of drugs without diagnosis or prescription. Self-medication entails a series of risks, including serious adverse events, drug interactions, intoxications, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it hinders timely medical attention by hiding the clinical picture with self-medication, causing an increase in hospitalizations and saturation of health services. Objective: The objective of this research was to determine the factors associated with the practice of self-medication in health students and the elderly population in Ecuador through a literature review to clarify how it affects people's healt Materials and Methods: The methodology used was documentary. The bibliographic search was carried out in the following databases: ScieLO, Redalyc, ProQuest, Google Scholar, Catholic University of Cuenca Library. Results: The factors that motivate the practice of self-medication in students in Ecuador to correspond to; characterizing symptoms as mild, family suggestions, possessing knowledge related to medications, economic factors and time, suggestions in pharmacies, advertising, confidence in medications, and suggestions from non-medical professionals, while in older adults it implies low academic instruction, family suggestions, economic factor, characterizing symptoms as not serious, advertising, lack of time, suggestions in pharmacies, difficulty in obtaining medical appointments and the belief of possessing knowledge regarding medications.