Help-seeking behavior and self-medication of a population in an urban area in Turkey: cross sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
To define help-seeking behavior and self-medication among people with different symptoms and complaints in an industrialized urban area of Turkey.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was carried out in the city center of Kocaeli province, Western Turkey, in October-November 1998. To research help-seeking behavior in respect of secondary prevention and curative practices, we randomly selected households (N=812), interviewed the household members at their home, and recorded the reasons for visiting a pharmacy in 6 pharmacies (N=1,331 visits to pharmacy) in the Kocaeli region.


RESULTS
The majority of interviewed people knew the meaning and importance of regular medical checkups, and only 7% had never underwent periodic checkups, mainly because of the lack of interest or time. Self-medication was found to be the dominant mode of help-seeking behavior, especially in the case of pain. The proportion of unprescribed to prescribed drugs was 1:1.75, with analgetics, antipyretics, expectorants, and antitussives as the most commonly requested unprescribed drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
A considerable amount of health care occured within the popular sector, with self-medication and pharmacist's advice as dominant modes of behavior. The health care system should take this into account when planning activities aimed at detection of disease.
Hayran
O
O
Department of Public Health, Marmara University, School of Medicine, 81326 Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Turkey.
Karavus
M
M
Aksayan
S
S
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014421:Turkey; D014505:Urban Population