Self-Medication and Over-the-Counter Drug Use: A Scoping Review of Patient Safety Risks and Community Pharmacy Interventions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65339/wjsam.V1.I2.3Keywords:
Community Pharmacy, Medication Counseling, Over-The-Counter Medicines, Patient Safety, Pharmaceutical Care, Scoping Review, Self-MedicationAbstract
This scoping review examined self-medication and over-the-counter (OTC) drug use, associated patient safety risks, and community pharmacy interventions, with particular attention to implications for the Philippines. Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework and Population–Concept–Context approach, the review examined Philippine and international publications and synthesized findings through descriptive mapping and narrative analysis. The literature identified healthcare accessibility, financial circumstances, previous treatment experiences, consumer knowledge, and informal advice as major influences on self-medication decisions. Significant safety concerns included inappropriate medicine selection, excessive dosage, prolonged use, adverse reactions, drug interactions, and delayed medical consultation. Evidence revealed important counseling deficiencies, with one study reporting that only 13% of pharmacy encounters satisfied all evaluated medication-information assessment components, while another documented full counseling-standard compliance in 14.6% of nonprescription product sales. Pharmacist training improved selected counseling and risk-assessment practices, although intervention outcomes varied across studies. The review concluded that accessible medicines must be accompanied by individualized professional guidance to support responsible self-care. Community pharmacies should strengthen structured symptom assessment, medication counseling, patient education, referral procedures, and continuing professional development. Differences in research designs, healthcare settings, medicine classifications, and regulatory frameworks limited the comparability and broader applicability of findings. This review provides a practical foundation for strengthening patient-centered pharmaceutical care, guiding medication safety initiatives, and supporting context-sensitive community pharmacy interventions in the Philippines.
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