AUTHOR=Tavares Aida Isabel , Ferreira Pedro Lopes , Raposo Vitor , Quintal Carlota 

TITLE=Consumption of Non-Prescribed Drugs in Portugal During the Pandemic in 2021

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=68

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1606021

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1606021

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> Portugal liberalised the over-the-counter drugs market in 2005 and provides universal healthcare coverage in a mainly Beveridge-type health system. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced healthcare to change how services were delivered, especially increasing remote consultations in primary care. This analysis aims to find the drivers for taking non-prescribed drugs during the pandemic in Portugal. Specifically, it seeks to understand the role of taking prescribed drugs and attending remote medical appointments in the self-medication decision.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> In this observational study, we used data collected during the pandemic in Centre Region of Portugal and estimated logistic regression for the whole sample and stratified by sex.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The main findings show that people taking prescribed medications and attending a remote consultation are more likely to take non-prescribed drugs. Also, reporting unmet healthcare needs seems to motivate people to choose self-medication.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Policy implications are pointed out concerning the health risks raised from self-medication, the role of the pharmacist advising non-prescribed drugs, and the related health risks arising from unmet healthcare needs.</p>