SELF-MEDICATION IN THE ELDERLY AND HEALTH RISKS: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.1593602316087

• Palavras-chave: Self-medication; Elderly; Health risks.

• Keywords: Self-medication; Elderly; Health risks.

• Abstract:

  This study aimed to investigate the use of over-the-counter drugs by the elderly, identifying the most commonly used drugs, the reasons for self-medication and the risks associated with this practice. This is an integrative literature review, carried out in the LILACS, SCIELO, MEDLINE and PUBMED databases, from July to October 2022. The descriptors “elderly”, “self-medication” and “medicine consumption habits” were used. ”, in Portuguese and English, including works available in full and free of charge, with up to 5 years of publication and dealing exclusively with self-medication in the elderly. Repeated works, works published in annals, theses and dissertations were excluded. The data were analyzed and recorded in the Microsoft Excel 2019 software. With this, it was possible to notice that there is a good availability of articles on self-medication in the elderly. It was evident that the lack of information and knowledge is still an issue that remains until the present day, since self-medication is strongly based on everyday empiricism, which can cause various health risks, especially for the elderly population. It is hoped that the results of this study can contribute to the theoretical foundation of further research, so that, this way, educational actions are developed, aiming at educating the population about the risks of self-medication.