title: Observations on the Prevalence, Characteristics, and Effects of Self-Treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  When facing illness, a person may choose self-treatment as an alternative to hospital (and primary care)-based treatment. Despite its important role in health care, the study on self-treatment remains limited. The goal is to collectively report the observations in the literature on the prevalence, characteristics, and effects of self-treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Databases (Medline/PubMed and Google Scholar) were searched. Articles were scrutinized for country of origin, sample size, recall period, prevalence, associated factors, etc.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Published studies have reported that in some regions, the prevalence of self-treatment is high and varies across illness conditions and treatment approaches. Self-medication is the most popular self-treatment approach. Multiple regional, demographic, personal, cultural, and religious factors have been implicated in the pursuit of self-treatment. In addition, accessibility of health care also plays a role. In general, self-treatment has a positive clinical and financial effect. However, there have been concerns on abuse and possible negative effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This article reviews observations made in recent studies on several important aspects of self-treatment. Comprehensive and systematic study is still lacking. Interventions are needed to solve several problems associated with self-treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA.
authors.forename: Yinjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Yale University , New Haven, CT , USA.
authors.forename: Shuangge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
keywords: associated factors; empirical observations; prevalence; self-treatment; treatment effects