Help-seeking behavior and self-medication of a population in an urban area in Turkey: Cross sectional study
Croatian Medical Journal, cilt.41, sa.3, ss.327-332, 2000 (Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 41 Sayı: 3
- Basım Tarihi: 2000
- Dergi Adı: Croatian Medical Journal
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.327-332
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Drug, Helping behavior, Life style, Medically underserved area, Medicine, Prescriptions, Public health, Social behavior, Traditional, Turkey
- İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır
Özet
Aim. To define help-seeking behavior and self-medication among people with different symptoms and complaints in an industrialized urban area of Turkey. Methods. This cross-sectional study was carried out in the city center of Kocaeli province, Western Turkey, in October-November 1998. To research help-seeking behavior in respect of secondary prevention and curative practices, we randomly selected households (N=812), interviewed the household members at their home, and recorded the reasons for visiting a pharmacy in 6 pharmacies (N= 1,331 visits to pharmacy) in the Kocaeli region. Results. The majority of the interviewed knew the meaning and importance of regular medical checkups, and only 7% had never underwent periodic checkups, mainly because of lack of interest or time. Self-medication was found to be the dominant mode of help-seeking behavior, especially in the case of pain. The proportion of unprescribed to prescribed drugs was 1:1.75, with analgetics, antipyretics, expectorants and antitussives as the most commonly requested unprescribed drugs. Conclusion. A considerable amount of health care occured within the popular sector, with self-medication and pharmacist's advice as dominant modes of behavior, The health care system should take this in account when planning activities aimed at detection of disease.