[Self-perceived health, the use of services and drug consumption in a noninstitutionalized older population].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the self-perceived health status, the use of services and drugs consumption of the elderly population in Toledo province.


METHODS
Descriptive crossover study.


METHODS
Primary Care, Toledo province.


METHODS
591 people over 65 and not in an institution. Stratified according to age, gender and place of residence.


RESULTS
A validated questionnaire was administered to the elderly people in their homes. 86.6% of them suffered from at least one chronic illness: the average was 2.30 per person. 55.2% referred to chewing problems; 43.2% to difficulty in walking; 69.2% to sight problems; and 40.3% to hearing trouble. 59.6% had visited the general doctor at least once during the previous month. During the previous two weeks, 71.6% had taken at least one medicine prescribed by the doctor; and 21.2% had taken medicine on their own initiative.


CONCLUSIONS
There was coincidence between the perception of their own health status, the number of chronic complaints from which they suffered, the frequency of use of the health services and the number of drugs consumed. Women and those over 75 were those who described their own health in the most negative way.
Gómez Peligros
A
A
Centro de Salud Los Navalmorales, Talavera de la Reina, Toledo.
Varona López
W
W
Alonso Atienza
M C
MC
García Jimeno
L
L
Menéndez Obregón
J
J
D000368:Aged; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012649:Self Concept; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Salud percibida, utilización de servicios y consumo de medicamentos en población anciana no institucionalizada.