Factors associated with self-medication in Spain: a cross-sectional study in different age groups

Niclós, Gracia; Olivar, Teresa; Rodilla, Vicente

doi:10.1111/ijpp.12387

Cited by 26 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The difference in methodology, especially the definition of self-treatment and self-medication, might account for the deviation in values to some extent. The differences in the contents of self-treatment/self- Utilization of family practice service *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01 medication, as well as the diversity of the period of time considered, would result in the differences in the estimation of the prevalence [9,37].…”

Section: Prevalence Of Self-treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The utilisation of family practice services is strongly associated with the lower possibility of self-treatment in the adjusted model. A cross-sectional study in Spain indicated that visits to the family doctor or other specialists in the last 4 weeks are negatively related to selftreatment, especially in the age group of 45-74 years [37]. It was indicated in a study in China that residents who availed of family practice services perceive higher quality of primary care, including the aspect of first contact-access, continuity, comprehensiveness and coordination [18].…”

Section: Predictors Of the Whole Sample Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The data of the CNHS in 2008 reported a slightly higher proportion of self-treatment among those with drinking habits [17]. The middle-aged and elderly (45-74 years) with recent alcohol consumption in Spain are likely to resort to self-medication [37]. An empirical study in Finland showed that 19.2% of elders aged over 75 years old use alcohol as self-medication to cope with the heart and vascular disorders, sleep disorders, mental problems and other illnesses [42].…”

Section: Predictors Of the Whole Sample Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The older elders are in the greater vulnerability of health and great need of care [53], and their family caregivers are often equipped with the knowledge of some common health problems and even some skills of healthcare tasks [54]. Given the longterm experience [37] of health problems and the inconvenience to visit doctors in remote areas [55], the older elders are likely to self-treat to cope with their discomforts with the support of their family caregiver, especially when they are in relatively stable health status.…”

Section: Subgroups Of Empty-nest and Non-empty-nest Eldersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and associated factors of self-treatment behaviour among different elder subgroups in rural China: a cross-sectional study

Zhong

Pan

et al. 2020

Int J Equity Health

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Background: Self-treatment is a common and widespread behaviour, of which the risks are multiplied in old age. However, the determinants of self-treatment among elders in rural China remain unclear. This study aims to explore the prevalence and associated factors of self-treatment among elders in rural China, trying to discover the vulnerable groups as well as the service gaps among the rural elders. Methods: Based on a multi-stage stratified random sampling method, a cross-sectional household survey was conducted among 30 villages in Sinan County, an impoverished county in western China. Data were collected through a household-individual combined questionnaires. The analysis was restricted to elders who reported illness within the last 2 weeks, and the final sample size was 330 (individuals). Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed in the whole sample group and four subgroups to obtain the prevalence ratios regarding the associated factors. Results: In the present study, 35.2% of the elders with illness within the last 2 weeks reported self-treatment. The variables associated with self-treatment in the whole sample group were health status (OR 6.75, 95%CI 1.93-23.60), recent alcohol consumption (OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.21-0.83) and the utilisation of family practice services (OR 0.59, 95%CI 0.36-0.96); the same predictors were found in the subgroup of elders with chronic diseases. No significant predictors were found in the subgroup of elders without chronic diseases. Empty-nest elders with higher affinity to traditional Chinese medicine (OR 0.39, 95%CI 0.18-0.86) or drinking alcohol recently (OR 0.28, 95%CI 0.09-0.82) were less likely to self-treat, while the non-empty-nest elders who were no less than 75 years old (OR 3.10, 95%CI 1.33, 7.22) or at better health status (OR 9.20, 95%CI 1.73-48.75) were more likely to self-treat. Conclusion: Self-treatment was prevalent among the elders in rural China. Better health status, no recent alcohol consumption and no utilisation of family practice are associated with self-treatment among rural elders. Older elders in the non-empty nest group were more likely to self-treat, while the empty-nest elders with self-care habits in traditional Chinese medicine were less likely to self-treat. Deeper understanding of the self-treatment behaviour among rural elders may provide insights for identifying the potential service gaps and developing improvement strategies in the health care delivery system for the elderly in China.

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Section: Prevalence Of Self-treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Predictors Of the Whole Sample Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Predictors Of the Whole Sample Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Subgroups Of Empty-nest and Non-empty-nest Eldersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and associated factors of self-treatment behaviour among different elder subgroups in rural China: a cross-sectional study

Zhong

Pan

et al. 2020

Int J Equity Health

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“…Likewise, several studies suggest that the costs of treatment rise as people get older (3,6). Previous studies show complications of self-medication among elderlies can cause even more harms than good; therefore, it seems to be fundamental to identify such underlying behaviors and try to modify them so that the elderlies can have a long and healthy life (7).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Freire's Adult Education Model in Modifying the Psychological Constructs of Health Belief Model in Self-medication Behaviors of Elderly: a randomized controlled trial

Gharouni

Ardalan

Araban

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background : As people age, they are more likely to engage in self-medication and suffer from its adverse effects. The present study aimed to modifying knowledge, psychological constructs of Health Belief Model (HBM), and self-medication behaviors using Freire’s Adult Education Model (FAEM) among elderlies in Khorramabad, Iran, from 2017 to 2018. Methods: This research was of a randomized controlled trial conducted on 132 individuals older than 60 who were referred from health care centers. The participants were selected using multistage sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. The data collection instruments included a questionnaire which was designed based on both HBM and self-medication behaviors questionnaire. The phases of adult education model (AEM) was used to modify the psychological constructs of HBM and self-medication behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 with a significance level of 0.05. Descriptive statistical tests, chi-squared test, paired t-test, independent t-test, and univariate modeling were employed for this purpose. Results : The mean age of the elderlies was 66.28±7.18 years. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of self-medication. Unawareness of the effects of medicine were the most important cause of self-medication (p=0.50). The two groups were not significantly different in terms of knowledge, HBM constructs, and self-medication behaviors (p>0.05). However, they came up to be considerably different for the above variables after the intervention was completed (p<0.05). When the findings were adjusted for the effects of confounding variables, there were significant differences between almost all constructs of HBM and their behaviors ( p < 0.05). However, the perceived barrier modality of HBM did not reach to a significant level of difference between two groups. Conclusion: The educational intervention, which was based on Freire’s AEM, had positive effects on the constructs of HBM and consequently on self-medication behaviors. The psychological constructs of HBM were affected at the phases of listening to problems. Self-medication was tempered at the action-reflection phase with shared creation and evaluation of the action plan geared towards the achievement of the behavioral objectives.

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Self-medication among general population in the European Union: prevalence and associated factors

Yeamans,

Gil-de-Miguel,

Hernández-Barrera

et al. 2024

Eur J Epidemiol

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Self-medication (SM) forms an important part of public health strategy. Nonetheless, little research has been performed to understand the current state of self-medication in the European Union (EU). Utilizing data from the third wave of the European Health Interview Surveys, this study finds an estimated SM prevalence of 34.3% in the EU (95%CI = 34.1-34.5%; n = 255,758). SM prevalence, as well as SM prevalence inequality between men and women, varies substantially between EU member countries. Via multivariable analysis, we also identify a number of variables associated with SM, most notably the substantial impact of health systems on SM behavior (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 4.00; 95% Confidence Interval [95%CI] = 3.81–4.21). Several demographics are also associated with greater SM prevalence, including those aged 25–44 (versus ages 75+: AOR = 1.21; 95%CI = 1.12–1.31), women (AOR = 1.74; 95%CI = 1.68–1.81), immigrants born in other EU states (AOR = 1.16; 95%CI = 1.04–1.30), those with higher education (AOR = 1.83; 95%CI = 1.60–2.09), and urban dwellers (AOR = 1.14; 95%CI = 1.04–1.30). Additionally, long-standing health problems (AOR = 1.39; 95%CI = 1.33–1.45), visits to doctors (both general practitioners and specialists) (AOR = 1.21, 95%CIs = 1.15–1.26, 1.17–1.26), and unmet needs for health care due to waiting lists (AOR = 1.38; 95%CI = 1.23–1.55) or inability to afford medical examinations/treatment (AOR = 1.27; 95%CI = 1.12–1.42) serve as conditioners for SM. We also find that smoking (AOR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.01–1.10), vaping (AOR = 1.19; 95%CI = 1.06–1.32), drinking alcohol (AOR = 1.23; 95%CI = 1.19–1.28), and higher levels of physical activity (AOR = 1.27; 95%CI = 1.22–1.32) are factors associated with SM. Analysis of these variables reveals that though women self-medicate more than men, the patterns that govern their consumption are similar.

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Factors associated with self-medication in Spain: a cross-sectional study in different age groups

Abstract: When our data are compared to those from previous Spanish surveys carried out in 2003 and 2006, we can conclude that self-medication is increasing in Spain.

Cited by 26 publications

References 29 publications

Prevalence and associated factors of self-treatment behaviour among different elder subgroups in rural China: a cross-sectional study

Prevalence and associated factors of self-treatment behaviour among different elder subgroups in rural China: a cross-sectional study

Application of Freire's Adult Education Model in Modifying the Psychological Constructs of Health Belief Model in Self-medication Behaviors of Elderly: a randomized controlled trial

Self-medication among general population in the European Union: prevalence and associated factors

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