Self-medication with proton pump inhibitors among physicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina: a cross-sectional study

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Source: Frontiers Medicine

Original: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2026.1663331...

Published: 2026-02-10T00:00:00Z

The study evaluated proton pump inhibitor (PPI) self-medication among general practitioners in Bosnia and Herzegovina through a cross-sectional survey from January to May 2025 of approximately 600 invited physicians from different levels of health care. A total of 65.4% of respondents reported PPI use in the past during their practice and 31.7% were current users. More than half (52.2%) admitted to self-medication without consulting another doctor, and only 17.4% referred to clinical guidelines before use. The most common pattern was occasional use (59.0%), with adverse effects rarely reported (1.8%). No demographic or occupational variables were significantly associated with self-medication in multivariate analysis. The study's conclusion highlights the high prevalence of PPI self-medication without consultation or adherence across all physician groups and calls for institutional interventions to promote rational use.