title: [A survey of self-medication practices and related factors in the general population: the Ohasama study].
abstract: Encouraging self-medication is expected to reduce healthcare costs. To assess the current situation of self-medication practices in the general population, we conducted a questionnaire survey regarding the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications or dietary supplements in 1008 participants (37% men; mean age, 64±13 years) from Ohasama, a rural Japanese community. A total of 519 (52%) participants used OTC medications or dietary supplements, with common cold medication (36%) and supplements (28%) such as shark cartilage products representing the most common choices. Stepwise logistic regression showed female gender, a higher frequency of visits from a household medicine kit distributor, dyslipidemia, and lower home systolic blood pressure levels as predictors for the use of such materials (chi-square values: 25.3, 12.6, 7.0, and 4.6, respectively; all p<0.03). Stratifying the participants according to the use of antihypertensive treatment showed a negative association between systolic blood pressure and the use of OTC medications or supplements only in participants being treated for hypertension. These results suggest that although the adoption rate of self-medication in Japan can be increased in rural areas, it may remain lower in urban areas. The present study clarifies the factors associated with the use of OTC medications or dietary supplements and indicates that appropriate self-medication practices might improve the control of hypertension, particularly in patients undergoing antihypertensive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Tohoku University Hospital.
authors.forename: Michihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Azusa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Saki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwamori
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kikuya
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Metoki
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosaka
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asayama
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Nariyasu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mano
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohkubo
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012424:Rural Population; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D055553:Prescription Drugs