Automédication et rôles du pharmacien d’officine dans la commune de Sétif du 01 décembre 2019 au 31 janvier 2020

Abstract

Self-medication is to take medication without a medical prescription. It is a practice that is increasing in our society nowadays. It is due to the economic capacity and the patient's desire to take responsibility for their health. However, this behavior presents some risks. In Algeria, self-medication is a real social phenomenon that must be treated through deep studies to understand and propose solutions . Our work aims to study this phenomenon among the population of the town of Setif as well as the role played by the pharmacist in this behavior. The survey conducted from December 2019 to February 2020 was based on data collection via questionnaires, from 80 patients, 80 pharmacists from the town of Sétif. 80% of pharmacists surveyed say they "always" or "often" receive citizens without prescriptions. While the majority of citizens surveyed (76%) said they "sometimes" resort to this practice. According to pharmacists, self-medication affects males and the elderly much more, while citizens have declared that it affects more females and young adults. According to pharmacists this behavior is increasing. It is mainly due to the high cost of medical consultation and easy access to medication, simple in clinical situations: influenza / cold and pain / fever (26.5% and 25.3%), / sore throat and digestive problems…, this practice is encouraged by the advice of relatives and by pharmacists. Concerning the drugs most taken without medical advice: analgesics / antipyretics with a proportion of 32.3%. A third of the population declares to have encountered undesirable effects and more than half of the pharmacists questioned receive cases of discomfort following self-medication, digestive problems are the most. Minimizing the risks of self-medication involves informing the patient. The pharmacist occupies a very important role in this practice, he has a duty to advice when giving a drug without a medical prescription. We cannot eliminate this practice but we can guide it to obtain a responsible and controlled self-medication by strengthening the role of the pharmacist. The establishment of laws preventing the free sale of certain drugs and the organization of information and sensory days about this phenomenon.