Self-Medication Practice and Associated Factors among Residents in Wuhan, China

Xiaosheng Lei, Heng Jiang, Chaojie Liu, Adamm Ferrier and Janette Mugavin
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Xiaosheng Lei: School of Management, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
Heng Jiang: Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
Chaojie Liu: Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
Adamm Ferrier: Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
Janette Mugavin: Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Background: This study aims to examine the prevalence and predictors associated with self-medication, and related consequences in Wuhan, China. Methods: Two-hundred-sixty residents were interviewed from randomly selected four districts of Wuhan, China. A modified version of Anderson’s health behavioral model was used in the survey to collect information of self-medication behavior. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to measure correlates of the prevalence of self-medication. Results: Nearly half of the respondents would select self-medication, and 39.1% would see a doctor if they felt sick. The most common self-medicated illnesses were cold and cough, cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal disease. The main reasons for self-medication were that the illness was not severe (enough) to see the doctor (45%); the patient did not think that the trouble of seeing a doctor was worth the effort (23%); the patient had no time to see the doctor (12%), and the patient did not want to pay high medical costs (15%). Logistic regression results suggested that respondents tended to select self-medication if the illness was minor or short-term (less than seven days). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that more strict regulation on over-the-counter medicines may be required to reduce health risks related to self-medication. Targeted health education on the risks of self-medication should be considered.

Keywords: self-medication; practice; associated factors; Chinese residents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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