Abstract
Objective: To analyze the causes of self-medication in the old-aged patient. Methods: This is a prospective, descriptive, quantitative study, by applying questionnaires to the old-aged patient attended at a UMS in Belém, Pará, which was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test (χ2), using the Biostat 5.3 program. Results: The sample had a female majority (62.5%), 60 to 80 years old (94.6%), elementary school (61.6%), married (36.6%) and retirees or pensioners (71.4 %). Women make more use of medication (p=0.0287) and read the package leaflet (p=0.0013), this attitude being linked to the high level of education (p=0.0078). However, self-medication decreases with increasing age (p=0.0245) and the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines is linked to 60 to 80 years old (p=0.0208) and to those with low or no proven income (p=0.0103). Low education leads to ignorance of the time of manifestation of initial symptoms, inducing the indiscriminate use of medications (p=0.0067) and influencing the decrease (p=0.0022) in the search for medical attention or health professionals for correct guidance. Conclusion: The old-aged patient need more correct guidance on the use of medicines and medicinal plants, with a greater participation of health professionals.