Self medication practices.

Abstract

A recently published study observes that lay people control not only decision-making about the health professionals they consult and whether or not they accept the advice they receive, but also about their own care, i.e., self-medication. The authors state that self-medication, which they and others term "folk medicine" is increasing in prominence in relation to its counterpart, professional medicine. Reasons for this shift include, among others, changing disease patterns, shortages of health personnel, and greater public interest in and knowledge about matters of health.The study also stated that the average household had almost 30 different medications on hand, only five of which were likely to be prescriptions. Two-thirds of all purchases of medications were self-determined. There was, as expected, considerable variation in who motivates such purchases according to types of illness involved. If the feasibility study serves no other purpose, its primary value lies in suggesting the areas in which health education and information may be required.