Prescription and self-medication patterns in the general population of Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Cross-sectional study

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic affected over 200 million people worldwide, with Ecuador being one of the hardest-hit countries in the Andean region, reporting approximately 777 thousand cases. Despite treatment strategies for COVID-19, various medication groups not recommended for mild to moderate cases were widely consumed by the population. This study aimed to determine the medication patterns of consumption in the general population of Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with a sample of 410 participants, calculated with an expected proportion of 36.8% from the Quisphe-Cañari study, a confidence level of 95%, and a precision of 5%. Non-probabilistic sampling was applied, with inclusion criteria as Ecuador residents over 18 years old and exclusion criteria excluding pregnant women. The dependent variable was “medication consumption.” Independent variables included age, gender, marital status, educational level, employment status, economic income, self-medication, and type of medication consumed. Exploratory data analysis, descriptive statistics, and frequency tables were applied for each variable. Medication consumption frequency was estimated, considering individuals using any medication as the numerator and the entire surveyed population as the denominator. SPSS26 software was used. Results: 410 participants, with an average age of 31.1±10.7 years, 62.9% were women, and 66.6% were single. 54.1% of participants used pharmacological therapy during the pandemic, with 64.4% having a medical prescription and 35.6% engaging in self-medication. In the self-medication group, analgesics was the most consumed (33.8%), followed by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) (22.9%), antibiotics (14.9%), and antihistamines (13.9%). In the medical prescription group, the most frequent drugs were analgesics (26.3%), NSAIDs (23.2%), antibiotics (18.5%), and antihistamines (16.9%). Regarding other medication groups, the frequency of corticosteroid consumption was 6.3% and antiparasitic agents with 6.5%. Conclusion: In Ecuador, several medication groups without indication for mild to moderate COVID-19, such as corticosteroids, antibiotics, and antiparasitics, were consumed under medical prescription.