Social determinants of prescribed and non-prescribed medicine use

• Main Authors: García-Altés Anna (Author), Rodríguez-Sanz Maica (Author), Pasarín M Isabel (Author), Daban Ferran (Author), Villalbí Joan R (Author), Zara Corinne (Author), Borrell Carme (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2010-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of the present study was to describe the use of prescribed and non prescribed medicines in a non-institutionalised population older than 15 years of an urban area during the year 2000, in terms of age and gender, social class, employment status and type of Primary Health Care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-sectional study. Information came from the 2000 Barcelona Health Interview Survey. The indicators used were the prevalence of use of prescribed and non-prescribed medicines in the two weeks prior to the interview. Descriptive analyses, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>More women than men took medicines (75.8% <it>vs</it>. 60% respectively). The prevalence of use of prescribed medicines increased with age while the prevalence of non-prescribed use decreased. These age differences are smaller among those with poor perceived health. In terms of social class, a higher percentage of men with good health in the more advantaged classes took non-prescribed medicines compared with disadvantaged classes (38.7% vs 31.8%). In contrast, among the group with poor health, more people from the more advantaged classes took prescribed medicines, compared with disadvantaged classes (51.4% vs 33.3%). A higher proportion of people who were either retired, unemployed or students, with good health, used prescribed medicines.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study shows that beside health needs, there are social determinants affecting medicine consumption in the city of Barcelona.</p>

Item Description

10.1186/1475-9276-9-12
1475-9276