Analysis of medication related problems and social impact in rural communities of the Metropolitan District of Quito

Abstract

 Introduction: In the Metropolitan District of Quito, the rural communities of Catzuqui de Velasco, Yunguilla, and Uyachul Alto face complex socioeconomic challenges. Among these, residents are exposed to the improper use of medications and self-medication, leading to issues such as drug resistance and pharmacodependence, which negatively impact their quality of life. The objective of this study was to identify problems related to medication administration in rural communities within the Metropolitan District of Quito. The methodology employed a mixed-methods design that combined the application of a pre-test, interviews, and result analysis within a descriptive research framework. This investigation was part of a community engagement project focused on the “Pharmaceutical Care Intervention for the Rational Use of Medicines,” involving a pre-test applied to 45 individuals, with a suitable sample size of 27 participants, achieving a 90% confidence level. Results: The majority of the beneficiaries were women (85.2%) aged between 41 and 50 years (33.3%). A total of 66.7% used prescribed medications, while 92.6% reported self-medicating, primarily with analgesics (84%), cold medicines (52%), and antipyretics (40%). Only 29.6% knew how to store medications properly. Conclusions: The research identified Drug-Related Problems (DRPs) in these rural communities, including self-medication and lack of adherence to treatment, which lead to Negative Outcomes Associated with Medication (NOAMs), such as drug resistance. Health education and pharmaceutical intervention are necessary to improve the rational use of medicines.