Objective: Possession of drugs at home in the family pharmacy and self-medication are at risk.
Method: Appraisal based upon an analysis of 247 questionnaires completed by patients and 116 questionnaires completed by general practitioners in the French department of Haute Garonne (Southwestern, France).
Results: Two hundred and forty-four patients were involved in the study. In 80% of cases, women were in charge of family pharmacy who was located in 66% of cases in a unsecurise room and could be reached by children in 17% of cases. Drugs most frequently found: antiseptics (97%), paracetamol (91%), anti-inflammatory drugs (68%), anti-diarrhea (60%). For the physicians 52 useable questionnaires, 80% of physician were confronted with one of three risks: self-medication, drug autolysis, poisoning in children.
Conclusion: Women are the referent of the family pharmacy. The doctors seem best placed to a message of prevention through minimal advice.
© 2011 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.