[Self-care measures recorded for acute pathology in primary care].
OBJECTIVE
To quantify and describe the self-treatment existing among users requesting a consultation about an illness which had commenced in the previous 15 days.


METHODS
Observational prospective study.


METHODS
Primary care in a semi-rural environment. Family Medicine Unit in Valls (Tarragona).


METHODS
The study included all those people who attended the Unit, whose illness had begun during the previous 15 days and who were attending with this illness for the first time. The following variables were recorded: gender, age, symptomatology and whether they had taken self-treatment measures (self-medication and/or non-pharmacological measures).


RESULTS
A total of 375 patients were recorded: 59.5% women and 40.5% men. The most common symptoms were pain (50.1%) and temperature (15.2%). 69.9% of the patients (CI 4.75) had treated themselves: there were no significant differences as regards age and gender. An analysis shows that 18.7% used nonpharmacological measures; 75.9% took some drug; and 5.4% used non-pharmacological measures plus a drug. The most used pharmacological groups were analgesics and antipyretics (40.9%, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Self-treatment is very common in the Primary Care environment. Professionals and health planners will have to bear this very much in mind, in order both to strengthen its positive implications and correct any negative aspects found.
Clanchet
T
T
Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria del CAP de Valls, Tarragona.
Navazo
I
I
Llor
C
C
Llovet
D
D
Vila
A
A
Alamán
E
E
D000208:Acute Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain
Medidas de autocuidado registradas ante patologías agudas en atención primaria.