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.
General Practice Unit, University of Hong Kong.
C L
CL
Lam
M G
MG
Catarivas
C
C
Munro
I J
IJ
Lauder
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal