Individual Perceptions and Self-Care Practices for Abdominal Pain: A Cross-Sectional Survey Conducted in Italian Community Pharmacies.

BACKGROUND

Abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints in community pharmacy, yet how individuals define it, which symptoms they associate with it, and how they manage it through self-care remains poorly characterized.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate individual perceptions, definitions, and self-care behaviors related to abdominal pain among adults attending Italian community pharmacies and to explore healthcare-seeking behaviors and needs.

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational survey was conducted among adults attending community pharmacies across Italy. Eligible participants were aged ≥18 years and provided consent for data processing; individuals with cognitive or language barriers were excluded. Thirty-three SIFAC clinical pharmacists administered an expert-reviewed 18-item digital questionnaire (October-December 2025), covering pain perception, healthcare needs, and self-care behaviors. Data were analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

406 pharmacy customers were enrolled (66.7% female; mean age 44.3 years). Over 93% reported at least one episode in the previous 12 months. The term was applied heterogeneously across localizations, symptom profiles, and attributed causes. The pharmacist was the preferred professional for mild-to-moderate episodes (29.9%) and high-intensity episodes without alarm signs (40.2%). Conversely, the physician was most frequently consulted for high-intensity episodes with alarm signs (53.4%) and first-time episodes (16.1%). Self-medication was reported by 89.4%, with probiotics and intestinal flora products (57.4%), antispasmodics (43.8%), and antacids and gastric acid suppressants (32.5%) most commonly used. Despite this, 55.3% expressed insecurity about autonomous management.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that community pharmacists represent an important point of contact in the initial management of abdominal pain among pharmacy customers. The heterogeneous symptom profiles, widespread use of self-medication, and uncertainty reported by many respondents about autonomous management support the potential value of structured symptom assessment, personalized counselling, and clear guidance on when medical evaluation is warranted.