[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.
Seksjon for arbeidsmedisin, Institutt for samfunnsmedisinske fag, Universitetet i Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, 5018 Bergen.
Hanne Ulrikke
HU
Bårnes
Trond
T
Riise
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