[Low use of drugs among farmers].
BACKGROUND
Farmers have a higher prevalence of depression compared to workers with other occupations. We wanted to investigate whether this corresponds to a more frequent use of antidepressants among farmers and to investigate their use of medication in general.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 20 166 workers aged 40-47 years from the general population, including 398 farmers and 713 part-time farmers, from a population-based health study carried out in a Norwegian county. In addition to type of occupation and use of medical drugs, mental (HADS) and physical (SF-12) health, life-style factors, height, weight and blood pressure were measured.


RESULTS
The farmers reported significantly lower use of antiperessants and also a significant lower use of medical drugs in general compared with other groups. Their physical health was significantly better compared with other occupational groups and they had a lower consumption of alcohol and tobacco. There were no marked differences in the blood pressure or body-mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
The lower use of drugs could reflect better health, it could be related to a culturally-related reluctance to the use of drugs, or it could indicate that farmers in some instances are not receiving proper medical care.
Bårnes
Hanne Ulrikke
HU
Seksjon for arbeidsmedisin, Institutt for samfunnsmedisinske fag, Universitetet i Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, 5018 Bergen.
Riise
Trond
T
D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000383:Agriculture; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000928:Antidepressive Agents