Consumption of medicines among pharmacy students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The indiscriminate use of medicines is an important health problem and it is a habit that is not restricted only to a specific age group. This article aimed to investigate during the COVID-19 pandemic the consumption of medicines among pharmacy students and to investigate their search for guidance from a pharmaceutical professional. This is a descriptive, observational and cross-sectional epidemiological study applied to students of the pharmacy course in Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso. The sample corresponded to 47.2% (67) of the students of the private institution and with 52.5% (74) of the public network. It was observed that 46% of the interviewees came to use some medication during the pandemic in order to treat a possible manifestation of COVID-19, and 44% used it without having the diagnosis of the disease, corroborating with what was observed during the pandemic, the search for drug means to treat and/or to prevent COVID-19. The most commonly used medications were vitamin C, vitamin D, ivermectin and azithromycin. Regarding the use of other remedies, such as teas, 56.8% of the participants did not use such alternatives. Although 85% of the interviewees were aware of the functions performed by the pharmacist, only 32.6% sought pharmaceutical guidance in the pandemic. It was concluded that the consumption of medicines was frequent among the students of the pharmacy course, including the practice of self-medication.