Publish at April 09 2025 Updated April 09 2025
Communicating medical indications to patients and informing them of what is being done medically to solve their health problems is a common practice in the medical world. Isn't self-medication simply the natural consequence of the medical profession's desire to inform and educate patients?
According to the Hippocratic oath, there should be a genuine, ongoing dialogue between patient and doctor. The latter is called upon to explain the patient's health situation in as much detail as possible. Moreover, for family doctors, the relationship between doctor and family is constant and can last a lifetime.
In some contexts, there are initiatives that put patient participation in medical training into perspective. One example is the "Patients Acteurs de l'Éducation Médicale" project in Saint-Étienne and Lyon. This project involves action research into patient participation in the initial and ongoing training of healthcare professionals. The patient trainer concept is the order of the day.
" Patients are no longer subjects or a learning ground, but people who, based on their experiences, develop knowledge. "
Nicolas Lechopier
In many countries in Africa and around the world, patient education campaigns are in vogue, particularly with regard to prevention against the resurgence of certain chronic diseases. The transfer of knowledge about diseases such as asthma, diabetes and others helps to empower patients. With this in mind, the WHO (World Health Organization) has established three levels of patient education:
What are the implications of this willingness to educate patients for medical practice?
Patient education is necessary and important in the medical sector. But doesn't this need ultimately lead to the proliferation of self-medication? A practice that is generally proscribed by the medical profession. In fact, by dint of acquiring medical knowledge, patients become unwitting pseudo-doctors who, thanks to the information they receive from medical campaigns, indulge in self-prescription. In fact, accustomed to following a doctor's advice, patients are forced to take charge of their own health by deliberately purchasing medicines without consulting their GP.
In pharmacies in Africa and Cameroon, for example, economic considerations take precedence over respect for medical protocol. In fact, doctors' prescriptions are not compulsory for the purchase of medication. Sometimes, the pharmacist becomes the doctor, as it is in the dispensary that patients explain what ails them, and without any examination, the pharmacist focuses solely on the symptoms described in order to sell a drug.
A study on the practice of self-medication in sub-Saharan Africa in the context of the covid 19 pandemic revealed that the sources of supply for medicines were: pharmacies, family members and hawkers.
Medical education is certainly a necessity, insofar as patients need to be informed in real time about their health situation and the procedures used for treatment. However, it must be recognized that this provision encourages self-medication. Awareness of this is essential if we are to find the right balance and envisage sustainable solutions.
Sources
Hippocratic Oath
https:// www.conseil-national.medecin.fr/medecin/devoirs-droits/serment-dhippocrate
Patient participation in medical training
https://shs.cairn.info/revue-rhizome-2015-4-page-15?lang=fr
Patient education
Patient education | Cairn.info
World Patient Safety Day 2022| WHO | Regional Office for Africa
https://www.afro.who.int/fr/regional-director/speeches-messages/journee-mondiale-de-la-securite-des-patients-2022
Self-medication practice in sub-Saharan Africa in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic - Scoping review
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0398762023005473
Self-medication: everything you need to know
https://www.smeno.com/blog/sante-bien-etre-prevention/tout-savoir-sur-l-automedication/
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