Self-medication in patients with acute toothache during the C OVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive and cross-sectional study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic generated several changes in the habits and behaviors of the world population. During the peak period of the pandemic, many people avoided going to health establishments for possible consultations for fear of contracting the infection, thus opting to self-medicate in a painful situation. Self-medication is a common practice in acute pain situations. The present study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and motivations of self-medication in patients who presented acute pain of odontogenic origin during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out through the application of a digital questionnaire through the “Google Forms” platform with 11 objective and discursive questions, in a random sampling process. The following parameters were analyzed: a) the main medications used on their own in an acute pain situation; b) the quantity and frequency of use of these drugs; c) possible adverse reactions reported due to the use of these medications. The sample consisted of 111 people and based on the results, it was inferred that the practice of self-medication occurred in greater numbers among people with higher education (42.3%). The main complaint that led patients to self-medicate was pain of endodontic origin (45.1%) and the majority of the sample classified the pain as being of severe intensity (40.5%). The main medications used were sodium dipyrone, paracetamol and nimesulide. Around 48% of the sample did not read the leaflet before taking these drugs and only 5.6% of them reported adverse reactions such as gastric discomfort and drowsiness. Based on the aforementioned results, it is concluded that the practice of self-medication was high during the observed period and should be discouraged by all health professionals, seeking to develop social awareness regarding the topic.