HEALTH EDUCATION AS A STRATEGY FOR PREVENTING SELF-MEDICATION IN THE ELDERLY

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze how health education can mitigate the risks of self-medication in the elderly, a practice exacerbated by polypharmacy and easy access to medications. An integrative literature review was conducted using databases such as SciELO, PubMed, and BVS, covering the last five years, selecting 10 articles for qualitative analysis. The main results show that self-medication in the elderly reaches rates of up to 80%, mainly motivated by chronic pain and the misuse of NSAIDs and psychotropic drugs. This practice entails severe biological risks due to pharmacokinetic changes in senescence, such as reduced renal and hepatic function, increasing the incidence of falls and hospitalizations. The discussion highlights that interventions based on andragogy and health literacy, such as the teach-back method and the use of visual aids, are more effective than purely informative methods. It concludes that multidisciplinary action in Primary Care is the cornerstone for the rational use of medications. Health education emerges as an essential quaternary prevention strategy, capable of promoting the autonomy and empowerment of the elderly. By transforming the patient into an active agent of their self-care, iatrogenic damage and hospital costs are reduced, consolidating a model of active, safe, and sustainable aging for the Unified Health System (SUS).