Self-Medication: A Critical Review of Clinical, Economic, and Health-System Trade-Offs.
- 1Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SIMAD University, Mogadishu, Somalia.
- 2Department of Pharmacy, Dr Sumait Hospital, SIMAD University, Mogadishu, Somalia.
Abstract
Self-medication is an established component of self-care, but its implications for patients and health systems are not uniformly beneficial or harmful. This critical review examines the clinical, economic and health-system trade-offs. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar informed a focused critical synthesis of 52 sources. The original literature check was conducted in August 2026; revision-stage source verification continued through 13 October 2026. Selection and descriptive critical appraisal were undertaken by one author. Pharmacist-supported minor-ailment care improved selected clinical and referral outcomes. An Australian trial reported symptom resolution or relief in 94% versus 88% with usual pharmacy care, with no statistically significant difference in reconsultation; its economic evaluation estimated an additional AUD7.14 per patient and AUD2277 per quality-adjusted life-year. In a Ugandan hospital-based study, self-medication was associated with admission attributed to adverse drug reactions (adjusted odds ratio 2.27; 95% confidence interval 1.14-4.55). Pharmacy interventions reduced non-prescription antibiotic dispensing in some settings, but persistent supply and limited clinical-outcome evidence constrained interpretation. Overall, benefits and risks varied by medicine, patient characteristics, professional support and healthcare access; evidence did not establish a single net clinical or economic benefit across these different practices. Policy should support suitable non-prescription care through medicine-safety checks and defined referral criteria. In low- and middle-income countries, higher-risk-medicine restrictions should accompany affordable diagnosis and treatment. Local evaluation should measure adverse outcomes, completed referrals and household and health-system costs. Focused single-author selection limits coverage and causal interpretation.
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BibTeX
@article{sabrie2026selfmedication,
title = {{Self-Medication: A Critical Review of Clinical, Economic, and Health-System Trade-Offs.}},
author = {Zainab Sabrie},
journal = {Risk management and healthcare policy},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.2147/rmhp.s649932},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953419},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Self-Medication: A Critical Review of Clinical, Economic, and Health-System Trade-Offs.
AU - Zainab Sabrie
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Risk management and healthcare policy
DO - 10.2147/rmhp.s649932
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953419
AB - Self-medication is an established component of self-care, but its implications for patients and health systems are not uniformly beneficial or harmful. This critical review examines the clinical, economic and health-system trade-offs. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar informed a focused critical synthesis of 52 sources. The original literature check was conducted in August 2026; revision-stage source verification continued through 13 October 2026. Selection and descriptive critical appraisal were undertaken by one author. Pharmacist-supported minor-ailment care improved selected clinical and referral outcomes. An Australian trial reported symptom resolution or relief in 94% versus 88% with usual pharmacy care, with no statistically significant difference in reconsultation; its economic evaluation estimated an additional AUD7.14 per patient and AUD2277 per quality-adjusted life-year. In a Ugandan hospital-based study, self-medication was associated with admission attributed to adverse drug reactions (adjusted odds ratio 2.27; 95% confidence interval 1.14-4.55). Pharmacy interventions reduced non-prescription antibiotic dispensing in some settings, but persistent supply and limited clinical-outcome evidence constrained interpretation. Overall, benefits and risks varied by medicine, patient characteristics, professional support and healthcare access; evidence did not establish a single net clinical or economic benefit across these different practices. Policy should support suitable non-prescription care through medicine-safety checks and defined referral criteria. In low- and middle-income countries, higher-risk-medicine restrictions should accompany affordable diagnosis and treatment. Local evaluation should measure adverse outcomes, completed referrals and household and health-system costs. Focused single-author selection limits coverage and causal interpretation.
SN - 1179-1594
ER -