Current Self-Medication Practices among the Russian Population

Abstract

Introduction: The practice of self-medication is widespread among the population. It is a kind of a socio-cultural norm that is habitual for many Russian people. Self-treatment, however, can be dangerous and lead to complications and poor health, thus being a serious challenge for healthcare. Misuse of antibiotics poses a particular danger. Self-medication has many reasons related to personal beliefs and external circumstances. The scientific community is discussing the topic of responsible self-treatment that implies reasonable health care and does not exclude seeking medical advice. The necessity of forming a responsible attitude of Russians to their health draws special attention to the problem of self-medication. Objective: To analyze changes in the prevalence of self-medication among the Russian population and to establish the reasons for its demand in the contemporary context. Methods: The empirical basis of the study was the personal in-home interview survey of the population aged 18 years and older. The field stage was carried out on April 18–27, 2022 in 30 regions of the Russian Federation and captured 1,500 respondents. Result: We have found that the health status and everyday well-being of Russians leaves much to be desired and necessitates different types of treatment. Self-medication remains a common practice. Every second respondent prefers self-care choosing medicines and folk remedies. Yet, we noticed a gradual decrease in the demand for this kind of treatment in favor of seeking professional medical advice. We revealed a significant dependence of the population, especially young people, on taking self-prescribed medications. We established also that many citizens cannot either afford or get access to necessary medical services or drugs in the area of residence, and are therefore compelled to self-treatment. The worse the respondents assess the healthcare system, the less often they consult a doctor and the more often they opt to self-medicate. Conclusions: The problems described indicate the importance of raising awareness of self-treatment and potential dangers of drug self-administration among Russian people. It is essential to improve the general level of the culture of health and responsibility of citizens for their health, and to create conditions for getting affordable professional medical care.