Current Self-Medication Practices among the Russian Population

Introduction: The practice of self-medication is widespread among the population. In Russia, it exists at the level of habit, a socio-cultural norm. However, the abuse of self-medication can lead to negative consequences for the human body and the health of other people, which is a serious problem for public health. Of particular danger is the uncontrolled use of antibiotics. The use of self-treatment is the result of a number of reasons related to the beliefs of the person himself and external circumstances. In the scientific community, the topic of responsible self-treatment is being discussed, which implies reasonable health care, which does not exclude access to doctors. The need to form a responsible attitude of Russians to their health actualizes attention to the problem of self-treatment.
The objective of the study was to analyze changes in the prevalence of self-medication among the Russian population, to identify the reasons for its demand in the current conditions.
Methods: The empirical basis of the study was the all-Russian sociological survey of the population aged 18 years and older. The field stage was carried out from April 18 to April 27, 2022. The geography of the survey included 30 regions of Russia. The sample size was 1500 people. The survey method is an in-home personal interview.
Result: The results of an empirical study show that the state of health and everyday well-being of Russians cannot be called favorable, which makes it necessary for them to use various methods of treatment. Self-medication is still a common practice. Every second respondent in case of illness prefers to be treated independently, using medicines and "folk" remedies. At the same time, there is a gradual decrease in the demand for this method of treatment in favor of seeking qualified help from doctors. A significant dependence of the population on taking medications has been revealed, and the decision to use them is often made independently, which mainly concerns young people. There remains a significant number of citizens who have to refuse the necessary medical services and medicines due to lack of money or the unavailability of the necessary doctors in the area of residence, which orients them towards self-treatment. The worse respondents assess the state of the healthcare system, the less often they go to doctors and more often they treat themselves.
Conclusion: The problems noted point to the need to raise the awareness of Russians regarding self-treatment, the possible negative consequences of the uncontrolled use of drugs and non-drugs, the need to increase the general level of the health culture of the population, the responsibility of citizens in relation to their health and create conditions for obtaining affordable qualified medical care.

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