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=Volume 68 - 2023

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=Objectives: Portugal liberalised the over-the-counter drugs market in 2005 and provides universal health care coverage in a mainly Beveridge-type health system. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced health care to change how services were delivered, especially increasing remote consultations in primary care. This analysis aims to find the drivers for taking nonprescribed 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.Methods: 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.Results: 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 health care needs seems to motivate peopleto choose self-medication.Conclusion: Policy implications are pointed out concerning the health risks raised from selfmedication, the role of the pharmacist advising non-prescribed drugs, and the related health risks arising from unmet health care needs.