Pharmaceutical interventions in self-medication: A descriptive study in community pharmacies

The main objective of this study is to characterize self-medication Pharmaceutical Interventions (PI) carried out between 2017 and 2025.

A descriptive study was conductive in 201 community pharmacies. Data were collected using GIPAMED notification grid.

This study looked at 3366 PIs involving selfmedication. The main reason for requesting drug by the patient or their representative, leading to an PI, was pain (in nearly one-third of cases). The molecules that caused the highest number of PIs were ibuprofen, paracetamol, oxomemazine, pheniramine in combination, and fosfomycin. The main reasons for PIs were "non-compliance with regulations: request for a prescription drug only", "contraindication with the pathophysiological condition," "non-indication with regard to the symptoms," and "need for a medical consultation: limits of pharmacy advice." The dispenser referred the patient for a consultation in 38.1% of cases. The solution proposed by the pharmacist was accepted by the interlocutor in more than 90% of cases.

The overall characterization of PIs provided a descriptive basis for identifying the most common types of PIs, the molecules involved, and how they are resolved. This data highlights areas requiring vigilance when dispensing nonprescription drugs. The prospective PI database developed has thus made a significant contribution to primary care research and, more specifically, to community pharmacy research.