Community Pharmacy-Based Study on Managing Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Italy

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are commonly reported by patients visiting community pharmacies in Italy, yet their prior treatment history is often not well documented. This descriptive, cross-sectional study investigated the medication use of individuals experiencing upper GI symptoms who visited one of 20 participating community pharmacies over a 7-month period, using a structured questionnaire. Among 1,020 respondents, 62.1 percent had previously sought medical consultation. The most frequently reported symptom was epigastric burning (31.8 percent), followed by acid regurgitation (14.6 percent) and postprandial fullness (12.0 percent). Out of 1,609 recorded treatments, proton pump inhibitors were the most commonly used class (35.6 percent), followed by antacids (17.5 percent) and alginate-based products (17.2 percent). Notably, 38.1 percent of patients managed their symptoms without medical guidance, and 42.0% relied on non-prescription medications. These findings indicate that community pharmacies could play an enhanced role in supporting patients with GI disorders to ensure safer self-medication practices.