Self-care for minor illness.
OBJECTIVE
To describe experiences with and knowledge of minor illness, self-care interventions used in minor illness and channels of information used when providing self-care for minor illness.


BACKGROUND
Although minor illness is self-limiting, symptoms can be substantial and have a great impact on the affected person's wellbeing. Possibilities to seek and find information about health and self-care have significantly increased through internet-based communities, forums, and websites. Still, a considerable number of consultations with general practitioners are for conditions that are potentially self-treatable. Seeking advanced care for minor illnesses is costly for society and can create discomfort for patients as they are down-prioritized at emergency departments.


METHODS
Study participants were recruited randomly from the Swedish Address Register. A questionnaire was sent out, and the final sample included 317 randomly selected persons aged 18-80 and living in Sweden.


RESULTS
Having experienced a specific illness correlated with self-reported knowledge. Preferred self-care interventions differed between different conditions, but resting and self-medicating were commonly used, along with consulting health care facilities. Compliance to advice was the highest for official information channels, and family members were a popular source of advice.
1PhD Student,Department of Nursing,Institution of Health Sciences,Luleå University of Technology,97187 Lulea,Sweden.
Silje
S
Gustafsson
2Senior Lecturer,Department of Health and Rehabilitation,Institution of Health Sciences,Luleå University of Technology,97187 Lulea,Sweden.
Irene
I
Vikman
3Professor Emerita,Enköpingsvägen 8D,746 52 Bålsta,Sweden.
Karin
K
Axelsson
4Associate Professor,Department of Nursing,Institution of Health Sciences,Luleå University of Technology,97187 Lulea,Sweden.
Stefan
S
Sävenstedt
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult