Citation

Tavares AI, Ferreira PL, Raposo V, Quintal C. Int. J. Public Health 2023; 68: e1606021.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.3389/ijph.2023.1606021

PMID

37546350

PMCID

PMC10397401

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Portugal liberalised the over-the-counter drugs market in 2005 and provides universal healthcare coverage in a mainly Beveridge-type health system. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced healthcare to change how services were delivered, especially increasing remote consultations in primary care. This analysis aims to find the drivers for taking non-prescribed drugs during the pandemic in Portugal. Specifically, it seeks to understand the role of taking prescribed drugs and attending remote medical appointments in the self-medication decision.

METHODS: In this observational study, we used data collected during the pandemic in Centre Region of Portugal and estimated logistic regression for the whole sample and stratified by sex.

RESULTS: The main findings show that people taking prescribed medications and attending a remote consultation are more likely to take non-prescribed drugs. Also, reporting unmet healthcare needs seems to motivate people to choose self-medication.

CONCLUSION: Policy implications are pointed out concerning the health risks raised from self-medication, the role of the pharmacist advising non-prescribed drugs, and the related health risks arising from unmet healthcare needs.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; COVID-19; *COVID-19/epidemiology; *Pandemics; social determinants; Portugal; behind-the-counter drugs; nonprescription drugs; Nonprescription Drugs/therapeutic use; Portugal/epidemiology; Self Medication