M G Catarivas | PubMed Health

PubMed1995

A pill for every ill?

Many doctors believe that Chinese expect a pill for every ill but this has never been validated by research data. The aim of our study was to find out what Chinese really expect from medications when they are ill. We interviewed a random sample of the 1068 Chinese in Hong Kong by telephone with a structured questionnaire. Only 40% thought illnesses always needed drug treatment but 76% always expected a prescription from a consultation. Nearly 100% of their last consultations resulted in a prescription. Eighty-five per cent of the prescriptions consisted of three drugs or more. Seven per cent of them thought too many drugs were given. Less than half of the people finished all the medications last prescribed. Those who thought too many drugs were given were less likely to have finished them. Younger age and more education were associated with less likelihood of thinking illnesses always needed drug treatment, consulting doctors for their last illnesses and expecting a prescription for every consultation. We conclude that Chinese do not expect a pill for every ill but doctors prescribe in nearly 100% of the consultations. Doctors may have over-estimated Chinese patients' expectation for medications. They may even have created a high expectation for a prescription in every consultation through their own prescribing habit. More open discussion on the need and expectation for drugs between patients and doctors may help to make prescribing for Chinese patients more rational.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Self-medication among Hong Kong Chinese.

A randomized telephone survey on the practice of self-medication in the preceding 2 weeks was carried out from October 1989 to April 1990 among Chinese living in Hong Kong. 1068 people were interviewed. Self-medication was a common and universal practice by Hong Kong Chinese with a prevalence of 32.5% in 2 weeks. Those who reported illness were significantly more likely than those who did not use self-medication (65 vs 18.2%) and to have used more than one item of medications (39 vs 20%). Chinese tonics were the most frequently used self-medications although they were the least known. Chinese medicines were used as often as Western medicines in the self-treatment of illnesses. People used self-medication mainly because they felt that they knew what to do. About 80% of the Western and Chinese medicines were perceived to be effective but only 49% of the tonics were reported so. Side effects were reported from all types of medications with an overall prevalence of 6.4%. There was a lack of knowledge of the possible side effects in over 96% of the self-medications which is an area for patient education. The popularity but the relative lack of knowledge of Chinese tonics call for more scientific research and better regulation on their sales.

Adolescent↗