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.