Self-Medication Behaviors of Chinese Residents and Consideration Related to Drug Prices and Medical Insurance Reimbursement When Self-Medicating: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ziwei Zhang, Pu Ge, Mengyao Yan, Yuyao Niu, Diyue Liu, Ping Xiong, Qiyu Li, Jinzi Zhang, Wenli Yu, Xinying Sun, Zhizhong Liu () and Yibo Wu ()
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Ziwei Zhang: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Pu Ge: Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
Mengyao Yan: School of Health Policy and Management, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100006, China
Yuyao Niu: Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
Diyue Liu: International School of Public Health and One Health, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
Ping Xiong: Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
Qiyu Li: School of Humanities and Management, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121001, China
Jinzi Zhang: School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150076, China
Wenli Yu: School of Foreign Languages, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, China
Xinying Sun: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Zhizhong Liu: School of Finance and Trade, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
Yibo Wu: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: Background: Self-medication has become a common phenomenon. Economic factors are important factors that affect the self-medication of residents. This study aimed to investigate the current status of self-medication behaviors in China and explored the related factors affecting considerations associated with medical insurance reimbursement or drug price in self-medication. Methods: A national cross-sectional investigation was conducted among Chinese people over 18 years old under a multi-stage sampling method through a questionnaire, which includes demographic sociological characteristics, self-medication behaviors and scales. The Chi-square test was used to analyze whether the respondents consider medical insurance reimbursement or drug price as an important factor when purchasing over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Logistic regression was used to examine the associated factors of considering medical insurance reimbursement or drug price. Results: In total, 9256 respondents were included in this study; 37.52% of the respondents regarded drug prices as an important consideration, and 28.53% of the respondents attached great importance to medical insurance reimbursement. Elderly respondents who lived in the central region, had medical insurance, and had lower levels of health literacy were more likely to consider the medical insurance reimbursement, while respondents with high monthly family income as well as students were less likely to consider the same issue ( p < 0.05). Respondents settled in the central and western regions, students, those without fixed occupations, those who suffered from chronic diseases, or those with lower health literacy were more likely to consider drug prices, while the respondents with bachelor degrees, urban population and high per capita monthly income were less likely to consider the drug prices ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Self-medication behaviors with OTC drugs were prevalent in China, and consideration factors of medical insurance reimbursement or drug prices were related to socio-demographic characteristics and health literacy. There is a need to take measures to reduce the economic burden of self-medication, improve the health literacy of residents and strengthen public health education.

Keywords: self-medication; OTC; drug prices; medical insurance reimbursement; economic factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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