Definition of self-medication: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Public Health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Self-medication (SM) is a widespread global phenomenon.
• It poses significant public health risks, including antibiotic resistance, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, disease masking, and increased morbidity.
• A lack of consensus on the definition of SM hinders effective problem-solving and intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the medical literature and characterize the current understanding of self-medication within the medical community.
• To identify the diverse concepts and definitions of self-medication used in existing research.
• To highlight the need for a standardized definition to facilitate targeted public health interventions.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of definitions of self-medication was conducted.
• Searches were performed on PubMed, Embase, and LILACS using keywords such as 'self-prescription,' 'self-medication,' 'automedication,' and 'definition.'
• Sixty-five studies containing definitions of SM were included, with no restrictions on language or publication year.

Main Results:

• A significant heterogeneity was found in the definitions of self-medication across the 65 included studies.
• Common definitional elements included the drug acquisition process, absence of professional healthcare provider involvement, medication source, and the reason for use.
• Other concepts, such as self-care, prescription nonadherence, reuse of stored medications, and medicine sharing, were also identified as forms of SM by some authors.

Conclusions:

• The current understanding of self-medication is characterized by considerable variation in definitions.
• The broad range of concepts included under the umbrella of SM, extending beyond therapeutic intent to include aesthetic and recreational purposes, necessitates a comprehensive definition.
• Establishing a consensus definition for self-medication is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate its associated public health risks.