Self-medication practices and the content of home pharmacies in the households of pharmacy and medical students in Zagreb, Croatia, in 2022 with a reference to the findings from 2001 and 1977.

Aim: To inventory the content of home pharmacies and evaluate drug keeping and self-medication practices in the households of medical and pharmacy students at Zagreb University in 2022, and to relate the findings to two previous surveys.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey enrolled 178 students who inventoried drug supplies in their family households, and interviewed household members on drug keeping and self-medication practices. Previous surveys included 287 (in 2001) and 225 (in 1977) students/households.

Results: In most households, medicines were kept at a designated place (around 65%, all surveys) but commonly contained products past the expiry dates or of unknown purpose (59% vs 27%-32% previously). Analgesics-antipyretics were kept in practically all households (93%-97% across all surveys), followed by cough-cold relief products (55% vs 30%-33% households) and anti-allergic drugs (systemic) (44% vs 25% households). These drug classes were commonly used for self-medication (all surveys). Of the typical prescription drugs, the most common were benzodiazepines (34% vs 24% previously), which were at least occasionally used for self-medication in 40% of such households. Systemic antibiotics were found in 17% of the households (vs 40%-46% previously), and the tendency of self-medication was less common (20% vs around 40% of the households).

Conclusions: The patterns observed in households with expected above-average drug literacy and access (future health care professionals, health care professionals common among household members) in three surveys completed across 50 years were discrepant with "responsible self-medication" (drug handling, storage, usage). As such, they emphasize a general need for improved awareness about this topic.