Acesso e implicações da automedicação em idosos na atenção primária à saúde

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the access and its interference in the process of selfmedication in the elderly. Method: evaluation study of cross-sectional services with elderly men and women who use primary health care services in the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. A total of 121 interviews were conducted in 09 basic health units of the municipality in 2016. Data were analyzed using the Student's ttest and chi-square test to determine the statistical significance between the two independent variables and outcomes. Results: the prevalence of self-medication was 66.7%, being negatively associated with access, a negatively assessed attribute in the perception of the elderly, showing an unsatisfactory degree (mean of 3.4). Fever (19.8%) was the main motivating complaint of self-medication, with analgesics being the most used self-medication. Self-medication showed a significant association between age and nonprescription medication for fever and headache. Conclusion: despite not finding an association between access and selfmedication, the high prevalence of this practice was identified. Thus, it is necessary to strengthen primary care through policies focused on the needs of the elderly with a comprehensive approach and greater access to multidisciplinary and multiprofessional care, not just the supply of medicines. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]