Towards a redefinition of self-medication: literature review with systematic search for definitions of the phenomenon.

This proposal is a "framework project" for the development of the Self-medication Behavior Observatory of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences of the Universidad del Rosario. The purpose of the Observatory is to define, classify, measure, explain, disseminate and intervene in self-medication behavior. In this sense, the definition of such behavior is an initial and fundamental mission for the Observatory. However, the definitions of self-medication that are usually recorded in the academic literature are restricted to the health context, as a variation of self-care behavior. However, since the formal inception of the Observatory (in 2016), we increasingly recorded reasons for self-initiated medication use that are unrelated to self-care (e.g., increased physical or cognitive performance; recreational/recreational/evasive use; cosmetic use, in both men and women; termination of life, among others). Based on the above, we propose the need for a redefinition of self-medication. This requires a review of the literature based on a systematic search, with a view to a proposal that would feed a future international consensus on this issue.

Self-medication; definition; literature review