title: Use of and factors associated with self-treatment in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When an individual is ill or symptomatic, they have the options of seeking professional health care, self-treating or doing nothing. In China, some studies suggest that the number of individuals opting to self-treat has been rapidly increasing in recent years. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the trends of and factors related to self-treatment in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-treatment was measured based the concept and data of the China National Health Survey (CNHS), which covers 802,454 individuals. We used CNHS data from 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008, and a Multinomial Logit Selection Model to estimate the factors influencing the decision to self-treat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalences of self-treatment with a recall period of two-weeks were significantly higher in urban compared with rural areas (31.2% vs 14.9% in 1993, 43.5% vs 21.4% in 1998, 47.2% vs 31.4% in 2003, 31.0% vs 25.3% in 2008) in China. Economic (per capita income, TV, sanitary water) and individual (education, profession, family members, exercise) factors, as well as accessibility to drugs had a positive association with the probability of self-treating. Different illness symptoms, severity, and duration show a negative association with the probability of self-treating, showing a degree of rationality in decision-making. Different insurance systems were also found to have an effect on self-treatment decision-making.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-treatment and professional medical services have shared the incremental medical needs of residents in recent years in China. Self-perceived illness status, economic circumstances, and education play important roles in health care decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Statistics and Information, Ministry of Health, Xizhimen South Road, Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuefeng
authors.forename: Rao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keqin
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xiaowei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult