Self-Medication Practices from the Perspective of Tunisian Cardiovascular Patients - A Community Pharmacy-Based Survey

Tunisia, a developing country, is facing in recent years a growing burden of chronic diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Self-care is essential in the long-term management of these diseases, and the practice of self-medication is a key component of the self-care process. This study aimed to analyze self-medication practices among patients with cardiovascular comorbidities in a region of Tunisia. The study was conducted in two community pharmacies in the region of Beja, Tunisia, as an interview based on a questionnaire for patients who self-reported the presence of a CVDs or the use of drugs to treat such disease. Out of 160 cardiovascular patients enrolled, over 90% self-reported the practice of self-medication with drugs of various types (paracetamol, ibuprofen, diclofenac, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, codeine, etc.), for medical symptoms considered trivial (headache, fever, cough, toothache, urinary discomfort, etc.). Over 70% of patients invoked both the existence of a previous medical prescription / recommendation and saving time and money as justifying reasons for self-medication practices. The abovementioned medicines are self-reported to be used concomitantly with the chronic therapies used for CVDs, and respectively other associated comorbidities (dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes, asthma, etc.). The high frequency of self-medication that has been highlighted is clear evidence that this practice is part of the daily health care routine of these patients. Thus, the therapist, doctor or pharmacist, has a very important role in the process of informing, advising and educating these patients with cardiovascular comorbidities in order to practice responsible self-medication.