Conocimientos de riesgos y percepción de beneficios hacia la automedicación en la población adulta del Paraguay, 2024.

Abstract

Background: Self-medication is perceived as a convenient and quick way to manage minor health problems, especially in socie- ties where access to medical care may be limited or costs. This practice carries risks, including inappropriate use of medicines, lack of proper diagnosis, negative drug-drug interactions, and the potential development of antimicrobial resistance. Objective: To determine the knowledge of risks and perception of benefits of self-medication in the adult population of Paraguay. Methodology: Observational, descriptive and prospective study, carried out in Paraguay during February of the year 2024. Non-probabilistic convenience sampling was used, selecting participants who were available to complete the online survey. The survey allowed the identification of socio-demographic va- riables, knowledge of risks and perception of benefits. Data were analysed using descriptive statistical techniques.
Results: The study included 127 participants, with an average age of 47.39 years, 79.5% of participants were female, most par- ticipants had attained secondary education (37.8%). In terms of risk awareness, 44.9% of participants recognised the risk of mis- diagnosis. In terms of perceived benefits, 40.9% of participants considered prior knowledge of effective therapies to be a signi- ficant benefit.
Conclusions: Self-medication is a common practice among the adult population in Paraguay, driven by convenience and distrust of the health system, and based mainly on information from non-professional sources. Although there is significant knowle- dge about the associated risks, the perception of immediate be- nefits continues to motivate this practice.