OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact and complications related to self-medication among patients admitted to the Maradi RHC.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study at the Maradi RHC, in the referral department from June 30 to September 30, 2021, by means of an interview.
RESULTS: A total of 254 patients were interviewed. The frequency of self-medication at the Maradi CHR was 3.63%. The majority of the patients surveyed were women (53.94%). The average age was 42 years. Among them, 63.39% were attending Koranic school and 38.19% were housewives. Street vendors and traditional practitioners were the main suppliers of self-medication drugs, respectively 45.28% and 30.31%. The most commonly used products were traditional medicines, analgesics, antibiotics and anti-malarial (47.63%, 26.37%, 22.44% and 16.92% respectively). The lack of financial means and accessibility of treatment were the main reasons for this practice. Digestive diseases were the most frequent pathology group. Jaundice was the first complication related to self-medication, followed by urticaria and Lyell\'s syndrome. Following management, 8% (n=20) patients were discharged cured and 6% (n=15) had died.
CONCLUSIONS: Self-medication is a rapidly growing practice, favored by many factors despite the many risks that can arise from it. In order to prevent these risks, an awareness program is necessary to make the population adhere to a change of behavior.
OBJECTIVE: Cette étude avait pour objectif d\'évaluer l\'impact et les complications liées à l\'automédication chez les patients admis au CHR de Maradi.
UNASSIGNED: Nous avons mené une étude transversale, descriptive et analytique au CHR de Maradi, dans le service d\'aiguillage du 30 Juin au 30 septembre 2021, par le biais d\'une interview.
UNASSIGNED: Au total 254 patients ont été interviewés. La fréquence de l\'automédication au CHR de Maradi était de 3,63%. La majorité des patients enquêtés étaient des femmes 53,94%. La moyenne d\'âge était de 42 ans. Parmi eux, 63,39% fréquentaient l\'école coranique et 38,19% étaient des ménagères. Les vendeurs de la rue et les tradipraticiensétaient les principaux acteurs qui fournissaient les médicaments d\'automédication soit respectivement 45,28% et 30,31%. Les produitsles plus utilisées étaient les médicaments traditionnels, les antalgiques, les antibiotiques et les antipaludiques soit respectivement 47,63%, 26,37%, 22,44% et 16,92%. Le manque de moyen financier et l\'accessibilité du traitement étaient les principales causes motivant cette pratique. Les affections digestives représentent le groupe de pathologie les plus fréquentes. L\'ictère était la première complication liée à l\'automédication suivi de l\'urticaire et le syndrome de Lyell. A la suite de la prise en charge,8%(n=20) patients de étaient sortis sont sortis guéris et 6% (n=15) étaient décédés.
CONCLUSIONS: L\'automédication est une pratique en forte croissance, favorisée par bien de facteurs malgré les nombreux risques qui peuvent découler de celle-ci. En vue de prévenir ces risques un programme de sensibilisation s\'avère nécessaire afin de faire adhérer la population à un changement de comportement.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. Symptomatic treatment is based on dopaminergic medications. In case of self-medication practices, there may be drug-drug interactions between over-the-counter medication and dopaminergic medications. Thus, the aim of our work was to develop a practical guide summarizing drug-drug interactions and assess it by patients and community pharmacy professionals.
METHODS: We performed a systematic analysis of drug-drug interactions between OTC medications available in France and antiparkinsonians (ATC Class N04) using Theriaque® and Drugs® databases, and summarized the results in a practical guide. We assessed patients\' satisfaction by a questionnaire administered to hospitalized patients in a French expert center for Parkinson\'s disease. We estimated the impact of the guide on community pharmacy professionals through a survey online, by satisfaction, knowledge acquisition and estimated awareness in professional context.
RESULTS: We identified 16 OTC medication, related to seven symptoms, interacting with antiparkinsonians. We obtained 67 responses from patients, expressing high satisfaction. We obtained 101 responses from professionals, reporting high satisfaction, knowledge acquisition and increased awareness in professional context.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the relevance of the guide and suggest that we may increase its dissemination to patients and community pharmacies.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of the present study was to describe the characteristics of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) linked to self-medication that were notified to the French Pharmacovigilance Database (FPVD) during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 first wave. The secondary objective was to compare the characteristics of these ADRs in 2020 with those notified during the same calendar period a year previously.
METHODS: We analyzed ADRs recorded in the FPVD between March 15th and May 31st, 2020 vs. the same dates in 2019. Only ADRs linked to self-medication were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to obtain an overview of the types and characteristics of these ADRs.
RESULTS: Of 3114 ADRs notified to the FPVD during the COVID-19 period in 2020, 114 (3.7%) were linked to self-medication. The equivalent proportion in 2019 was 1.6% (113 out of 7097). Half of the ADRs notified in 2020 were \"serious\". The median age of affected patients was 30.5, and 22% of the ADRs concerned children. Of the 114 ADRs linked to self-medication, 107 (66%) were for prescription-only drugs. The three mostly frequently suspected ATC classes were analgesics, psycholeptics, and antibacterials for systemic use. The most frequent ADRs were general disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and nervous system disorders. The main difference between the non-COVID-19 period and the COVID-19 period was the higher proportion of medication errors during the latter.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first to have reported on ADRs linked to self-medication and notified during a COVID-19 outbreak. Further studies of self-medication patterns and their consequences in a pandemic context are mandatory and effective information on medication use (including self-medication and its dangers) during a pandemic is essential.

OBJECTIVE: Self-medication practices are widely practiced globally as major form of self-care for pain management. Unfortunately, with COVID-19 pandemic, prescription only drugs are now increasingly being self-prescribed. Present study was therefore, conducted to generate data on self-medication practice with analgesics using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen, and the antibiotics among nursing students of University College Farasan Campus.
METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 177 study participants (20±3 years) between December 2019 to February 2020 using questionnaire. Data analyses were done using origin software (6.1, Illinois, USA). Significance was considered at P<0.05. Study was conducted in Department of Nursing, University College Farasan Province, a premier educational institute of Farasan Island affiliated to Jazan university, KSA.
RESULTS: Self-medication practices were high among nursing students (n=154 participants, 87%). Acetaminophen was highest used drug for analgesic purposes without prescriptions (n=101 participants, 57%). Among NSAIDs, Ibuprofen was most preferred for various analgesic purposes (n=35 participants, 20%) followed by diclofenac (n=9 participants, 5%) and meloxicam (n=5 participants, 3%). Azithromycine was the only antibiotic used by participants (n=4 participant, 2%). Most common causes of self-medication were headache (45%), menstrual pain (23%) and fever (14%). Main reason for self-medications was lack of time to consult doctor (68%). Furthermore, self-medication was significantly associated with study year (P<0.003).
CONCLUSIONS: Results give rise to concern for general well-being of future nursing workforce. There is need to implement educational actions and awareness programmes to limit self-medication practices among educated youth of this beautiful Island.

Ten percent of the world\'s population is affected by chronic kidney disease that can lead to kidney failure. In France, nearly three million people are concerned, half of whom are undiagnosed, 85,000 people are on dialysis or waiting for a kidney transplant. Each year, 11,000 new diagnoses of severe renal failure are made, one third of which had not been treated before. Kidney failure is constantly increasing due to the aging of the population and the resurgence of chronic diseases, including obesity and cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, two conditions that impair renal function. The pharmacist, a local actor, is well placed to help patients adhere to their treatment and manage it to the best of their quality of life. It is up to the pharmacist to check the dosages according to the degree of renal involvement, ideally noted on the prescription or, failing that, by asking the patient the results of his recent biological examinations. The consultation of the pharmaceutical file and, ultimately, the shared medical file, will make it possible, in a concerted management of the patient\'s care pathway, to also detect possible drug interactions. By dispensing the prescribed drugs, the pharmacist can also warn against those known to be known for their nephrotoxicity, especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In the case of over-the-counter products, the pharmacist may discourage a person at risk from taking certain drugs containing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin and ibuprofen. Because of their potential renal toxicity, the pharmacist is competent to alert, especially on certain food supplements, herbal products, and is legitimate to participate in screening campaigns.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to: (i) quantify the number of pharmaceutical interventions (PIs) linked to spontaneous requests for the two oral target molecules, ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine (ii) analyse the causes and proposed solutions (iii) quantify the number of registrations in the patient\'s pharmaceutical record and identify the various causes of non-registration.
METHODS: The study was conducted over a 2 weeks\' period in the months of February and April 2014 in 482 pharmacies affiliated to the training supervisor associations of 8 French Faculties of Pharmacy. Data regarding spontaneous requests for the target molecules was collected, with due respect to a patient care flow chart at the pharmacy, by incorporating the systematic proposal for registration of the medication in the patient\'s pharmaceutical record. Each PI was the subject of a notification made with reference to a standardized grid.
RESULTS: A total of 12,160 dispensations were made over the two weeks of the study. Overall 815 of them gave rise to an PI (6.7%), justified in almost half of the cases by a contraindication. The alternative proposed by the dispensing pharmacist was accepted in more than 9 out of 10 cases. In half of the cases, the dispensing pharmacist had access to the patient\'s French healthcare card; more than 2/3 of the dispensations thus led to the registration of the medication in the patient\'s pharmaceutical record.
CONCLUSIONS: The pairing of the two tools, these being the notification grid and the pharmaceutical record, aims to maximize dispensation security while patients are being guided in their approach to self-medication.

OBJECTIVE: This study had two main aims: (i) document the experience of community pharmacists receiving a spontaneous request for ibuprofen and oral pseudoephedrine, and their use of pharmaceutical records, and (ii) explore patients\' perceptions of pharmaceutical records and pharmaceutical interventions.
METHODS: The study was conducted over two weeks between February and April 2014 in 482 community pharmacies and 8 French faculties of pharmacy. It was based on data collected by pharmacy team focus groups during patient telephone interviews using standardized question grids. Textual and thematic analyses were made of the patient responses.
RESULTS: Four pharmacy team focus groups carried out 49 telephone interviews. Examination of the practice of the groups showed that pharmaceutical interventions, although incompletely registered, are performed on a daily basis and enhance the value of the pharmacist\'s function. Analysis of the telephone interviews also showed the importance of the advisory role of the pharmacist in dispensing an optional medical prescription. The thematic analysis of the results identified a positive response of patients to pharmaceutical interventions if made by their regular pharmacist and accompanied by explanatory information. The focus groups and patients agreed that pharmaceutical records were not consulted often enough.
CONCLUSIONS: This study underlines the need for greater safety in the use of optional medical prescription drugs. Promoting responsible self-medication in compliance with proper use should include systematic reference to a PR and informed dialogue with the patient.

OBJECTIVE: People with diabetes turn to over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for many ailments. The focus of this brief review is the impact common OTC medicines might have on this group of patients.
METHODS: Three types of OTC medicines were selected as most deserving of attention: 3 herbal agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cough/cold products. Existing literature was used to determine precautions that might be in order.
RESULTS: Herbal/natural agents with the potential to impact blood sugar have been identified in various reports. In discussing 3, glucosamine and cinnamon (at doses recommended on commercial products) should have minimal impact on diabetic management, whereas St. John\'s wort is a concern involving potential drug interactions. For colds, of about 11 active ingredients, only decongestants (primarily oral) need be considered for their possible effects on blood sugar. Finally, NSAIDs (even at OTC doses) must be used with caution, given their cardiovascular, renal and gastrointestinal risks. Care guidelines do encourage patients to take ownership of their condition. Yet the ability to self-medicate safely is not a certainty. In spite of easy access and a reasonable level of safety, OTC medicines still can negatively impact a user. NSAIDs available without prescription continue to cause concern.
CONCLUSIONS: Before the use of any medicine, a person must ensure it will be safe. A health-care provider can be asked for assistance, but that option may not always be employed. Package information is there to provide critical information in lieu of that, something the self-medicating patient will, it is hoped, embrace.

To provide an assessment of China\'s progress to universal health coverage (UHC) from the perspective of people-centred care.
We obtained data on 28 103 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHALRS) during 2011-2013. We used logistic regressions and generalised linear models to analyse care-seeking behaviours and medical expenditures.
We found that 95.5% of the subjects were covered by social health insurance in 2013, and nearly 60% subjects in need of medical care were self-medicated. Health insurance was a strong predictor for the access to outpatient care. Use of pure and mixed self-medication increased by 15% and 32% respectively, while use of pure outpatient care fell by 10% between 2011 and 2013, after adjusting for predisposing, service needs and enabling factors. Such trends were particularly evident for the Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance and the New Cooperative Medical Scheme, which covered more than 80%. The monthly out-of-pocket medical expenditures and the probability of encountering catastrophic health expenditures for outpatient care were four times larger than that for self-medication. Between 2011 and 2013, outpatient care medical costs rose by nearly 50%, whereas there was no such obvious trend for self-medication. People with insurance schemes offering lower cost sharing incurred consistently higher out-of-pocket outpatient payments.
The monitoring of global progress to UHC should incorporate self-medication. In China, it seems that the current reform and the huge government investment have not resulted in access to affordable quality care. To achieve UHC, not only universal insurance, but system-level efforts are needed.

To identify sociodemographic, knowledge and attitudinal correlates to antibiotic sharing among a community-based sample of adults (age 18 and older) in a low-income setting of the Philippines and to explore community-level data on informal antibiotic distribution in roadside stands (i.e., sari-sari stands).
Participants (n = 307) completed self-administered surveys. Correlates to antibiotic sharing were assessed using logistic regression with Firth\'s bias-adjusted estimates. Study staff also visited 106 roadside stands and collected data on availability and characteristics of antibiotics in the stands.
78% had shared antibiotics in their lifetime, most often with family members. In multivariable analysis, agreement with the belief that it is safe to prematurely stop an antibiotic course (OR: 2.8, CI: 1.3-5.8) and concerns about antibiotic side effects (OR: 2.1, CI: 1.1-4.4) were significantly associated with increased odds of reported antibiotic sharing. Antibiotic sharing was not associated with sociodemographic characteristics or antibiotic knowledge. Antibiotics were widely available in 60% of sampled sari-sari stands, in which 59% of antibiotics were missing expiration dates. Amoxicillin and cephalexin were the most commonly available antibiotics for sale at the stands (60% and 21%, respectively).
Antibiotic sharing was common and was associated with misconceptions about proper antibiotic use. Antibiotics were widely available in sari-sari stands, and usually without expiration information. This study suggests that multipronged and locally tailored approaches to curbing informal antibiotic access are needed in the Philippines and similar Southeast-Asian countries.