Background
Methods
1992-1993 | 1994-1995 | 2000-2001 | 2003-2004 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | N = 2087 | Wave 3 | N = 1679 | Wave 6 | N = 791 | Wave 7 | N = 487 | |
Variable | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % |
Age (years)
| ||||||||
65-79 | 1224 | 58.6 | 893 | 53.2 | 216 | 27.3 | 47 | 9.7 |
80+ | 863 | 41.4 | 786 | 46.8 | 575 | 72.7 | 440 | 90.3 |
Gender
| ||||||||
Female | 1031 | 49.4 | 854 | 50.9 | 456 | 57.6 | 303 | 62.2 |
Male | 1056 | 50.6 | 825 | 49.1 | 335 | 42.4 | 184 | 37.8 |
Education
(Age when left school)
| ||||||||
<14 years | 336 | 16.3 | 262 | 15.4 | 105 | 13.3 | 65 | 13.4 |
≥ 14 years | 1725 | 83.7 | 1399 | 84.6 | 684 | 86.7 | 420 | 86.6 |
Missing | 26 | 18 | 2 | 2 | ||||
Tertiary education
| ||||||||
Yes | 700 | 33.9 | 570 | 34.2 | 278 | 35.2 | 177 | 36.5 |
No | 1367 | 66.1 | 1096 | 65.8 | 512 | 64.8 | 308 | 63.5 |
Missing | 20 | 13 | 1 | 2 | ||||
Income Level
| ||||||||
<$12,000 | 686 | 35.5 | 559 | 40.9 | 165 | 30.3 | 116 | 35.6 |
$12,000 - $30,000 | 1083 | 56.1 | 719 | 52.6 | 312 | 57.4 | 146 | 44.8 |
>$30,000 | 161 | 8.3 | 90 | 6.6 | 67 | 12.3 | 64 | 19.6 |
Missing | 157 | 311 | 247 | 161 | ||||
Self-rated health
| ||||||||
Excellent | 191 | 9.2 | 129 | 8.2 | 64 | 9.8 | 16 | 3.9 |
Very Good | 599 | 28.8 | 410 | 25.9 | 181 | 27.7 | 85 | 20.5 |
Good | 633 | 30.4 | 534 | 33.8 | 224 | 34.3 | 171 | 41.2 |
Fair | 477 | 22.9 | 403 | 25.5 | 147 | 22.5 | 113 | 27.2 |
Poor | 181 | 8.7 | 106 | 6.7 | 37 | 5.7 | 30 | 7.2 |
Missing | 6 | 97 | 138 | 72 |
Results
Characteristics of participants
Prevalence of self-medication
1992-1993 | 1994-1995 | 2000-2001 | 2003-2004 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | N = 2087 | Wave 3 | N = 1679 | Wave 6 | N = 791 | Wave 7 | N = 487 | |
Variable | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % |
CAM or OTC
1
| 404 | 19.4 | 460 | 27.4 | 140 | 17.7 | 173 | 35.5 |
OTC only
| 268 | 12.8 | 278 | 16.6 | 79 | 10.0 | 83 | 17.0 |
CAM only
| 180 | 8.6 | 241 | 14.4 | 71 | 9.0 | 118 | 24.2 |
1992-1993 | 1994-1995 | 2000-2001 | 2003-2004 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | N = 2087 | Wave 3 | N = 1679 | Wave 6 | N = 791 | Wave 7 | N = 487 | ||
Classes of CAM/OTC | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | |
CAM
| Vitamins & minerals | 113 | 5.4 | 155 | 9.2 | 53 | 6.7 | 68 | 14.0 |
Herbal medicines | 50 | 2.4 | 69 | 4.1 | 23 | 2.9 | 27 | 5.5 | |
Nutritional supplements | 34 | 1.6 | 54 | 3.2 | 26 | 3.3 | 37 | 7.6 | |
Homeopathic medicines | 4 | 0.2 | 5 | 0.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.2 | |
Probiotics | 3 | 0.1 | 4 | 0.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
Combination products | 43 | 2.1 | 49 | 2.9 | 9 | 1.1 | 25 | 5.1 | |
OTC
| Analgesics | 112 | 5.4 | 127 | 7.6 | 44 | 5.6 | 43 | 8.8 |
Laxatives | 89 | 4.3 | 76 | 4.5 | 16 | 2.0 | 25 | 5.1 | |
Antithrombotic agents | 34 | 1.6 | 43 | 2.6 | 17 | 2.1 | 10 | 2.1 | |
Antacids | 19 | 0.9 | 14 | 0.8 | 1 | 0.1 | 6 | 1.2 | |
Cough & cold preps | 16 | 0.8 | 18 | 1.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.0 | |
Antihistamines | 7 | 0.3 | 4 | 0.2 | 2 | 0.3 | 1 | 0.2 | |
Dermatologicals | 3 | 0.1 | 4 | 0.2 | 1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.0 | |
Throat preparations | 4 | 0.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
Nasal preparations | 2 | 0.1 | 5 | 0.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
Antidiarrhoeals | 2 | 0.1 | 1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
Other1
| 11 | 0.5 | 16 | 1.0 | 4 | 0.5 | 4 | 0.8 | |
Unknown2
| 11 | 0.5 | 10 | 0.6 | 3 | 0.4 | 12 | 2.5 |
1992-1993 | 1994-1995 | 2000-2001 | 2003-2004 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | N = 180 | Wave 3 | N = 241 | Wave 6 | N = 71 | Wave 7 | N = 118 | |
CAM | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % |
Vitamins and minerals
| ||||||||
Multivitamins | 40 | 22.2 | 57 | 23.7 | 22 | 31 | 33 | 28 |
Vitamin C | 32 | 17.8 | 47 | 19.5 | 8 | 11.3 | 23 | 20.3 |
Vitamin B | 19 | 10.6 | 31 | 12.9 | 8 | 11.3 | 5 | 4.2 |
Vitamin E | 18 | 10 | 43 | 17.8 | 16 | 22.5 | 9 | 7.6 |
Herbal medications
| ||||||||
Garlic | 24 | 13.3 | 22 | 9.1 | 3 | 4.2 | 2 | 1.7 |
Celery | 13 | 7.2 | 18 | 7.5 | 3 | 4.2 | 1 | 0.8 |
Gingko biloba | 2 | 1.1 | 5 | 2.1 | 10 | 14.1 | 9 | 7.6 |
Nutritional supplements
| ||||||||
Cod liver oil | 22 | 12.2 | 37 | 15.4 | 9 | 12.7 | 11 | 9.3 |
Fish oil | 6 | 3.3 | 5 | 2.1 | 3 | 4.2 | 8 | 6.8 |
Glucosamine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5.6 | 10 | 8.5 |
Variables affecting self-medication
1992-1993 | 1994-1995 | 2000-2001 | 2003-2004 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | N = 268 | Wave 3 | N = 278 | Wave 6 | N = 79 | Wave 7 | N = 83 | |
Variable | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % |
Age (years)
| ||||||||
65-79 | 159 | 13.0 | 148 | 16.6 | 27 | 12.5 | 8 | 17.0 |
80+ | 109 | 12.6 | 130 | 16.5 | 52 | 9.0 | 75 | 17.0 |
P value | 0.809 | 0.985 | 0.149 | 0.997 | ||||
Gender
| ||||||||
Female | 146 | 14.2 | 149 | 17.4 | 52 | 11.4 | 51 | 16.8 |
Male | 122 | 11.6 | 129 | 15.6 | 27 | 8.1 | 32 | 17.4% |
P value | 0.075 | 0.318 | 0.121 | 0.873 | ||||
Education
(Age when left school)
| ||||||||
<14 years | 47 | 14.0 | 47 | 17.9 | 14 | 13.3 | 11 | 16.9 |
≥ 14 years | 220 | 12.8 | 227 | 16.2 | 65 | 9.5 | 72 | 17.1 |
P value | 0.538 | 0.493 | 0.223 | 0.965 | ||||
Tertiary education
| ||||||||
Yes | 98 | 14.0 | 101 | 17.7 | 27 | 9.7 | 31 | 17.5 |
No | 170 | 12.4 | 176 | 16.1 | 52 | 10.2 | 52 | 16.9 |
P value | 0.316 | 0.388 | 0.843 | 0.859 | ||||
Income Level
| ||||||||
<$12,000 | 89 | 13.0 | 97 | 17.4 | 26 | 15.8 | 23 | 19.8 |
$12,000 - $30,000 | 137 | 12.7 | 111 | 15.4 | 26 | 8.3 | 24 | 16.4 |
>$30,000 | 25 | 15.5 | 27 | 30.0 | 5 | 7.5 | 8 | 12.5 |
P value | 0.598 | 0.003 | 0.029 | 0.446 | ||||
Perceived Health
| ||||||||
Excellent | 19 | 9.9 | 17 | 13.2 | 4 | 6.3 | 4 | 25.0 |
Very Good | 63 | 10.5 | 58 | 14.1 | 25 | 13.8 | 13 | 15.3 |
Good | 96 | 15.2 | 105 | 19.7 | 21 | 9.4 | 25 | 14.6 |
Fair | 73 | 15.3 | 73 | 18.1 | 18 | 12.2 | 24 | 21.2 |
Poor | 17 | 9.4 | 14 | 13.2 | 4 | 10.8 | 6 | 20.2 |
P value | 0.018 | 0.097 | 0.438 | 0.536 |
1992-1993 | 1994-1995 | 2000-2001 | 2003-2004 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | N = 180 | Wave 3 | N = 241 | Wave 6 | N = 71 | Wave 7 | N = 173 | |
Variable | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % |
Age (years)
| ||||||||
65-79 | 122 | 10.0 | 152 | 17.0 | 27 | 12.5 | 17 | 36.2 |
80+ | 58 | 6.7 | 89 | 11.3 | 44 | 7.7 | 101 | 23.0 |
P value | 0.009 | 0.001 | 0.034 | 0.044 | ||||
Gender
| ||||||||
Female | 102 | 9.9 | 142 | 16.6 | 53 | 11.6 | 81 | 26.7 |
Male | 78 | 7.4 | 99 | 12.0 | 18 | 5.4 | 37 | 20.1 |
P value | 0.041 | 0.007 | 0.002 | 0.098 | ||||
Education
(Age when left school)
| ||||||||
<14 years | 30 | 8.9 | 39 | 14.9 | 10 | 9.5 | 16 | 24.6 |
≥ 14 years | 149 | 8.6 | 200 | 14.3 | 61 | 8.9 | 102 | 24.3 |
P value | 0.862 | 0.803 | 0.840 | 0.954 | ||||
Tertiary education
| ||||||||
Yes | 63 | 9.0 | 92 | 16.1 | 27 | 9.7 | 56 | 31.6 |
No | 116 | 8.5 | 149 | 13.6 | 44 | 8.6 | 62 | 20.1 |
P value | 0.694 | 0.161 | 0.600 | 0.004 | ||||
Income Level
| ||||||||
<$12,000 | 52 | 7.6 | 82 | 14.7 | 18 | 10.9 | 33 | 28.4 |
$12,000 - $30,000 | 101 | 9.3 | 120 | 16.7 | 29 | 9.3 | 34 | 23.3 |
>$30,000 | 12 | 7.5 | 13 | 14.4 | 10 | 14.9 | 12 | 18.8 |
P value | 0.385 | 0.581 | 0.385 | 0.326 | ||||
Self-rated health
| ||||||||
Excellent | 16 | 8.4 | 17 | 13.2 | 12 | 18.8 | 7 | 43.8 |
Very Good | 58 | 9.7 | 64 | 15.6 | 17 | 9.4 | 24 | 28.2 |
Good | 56 | 8.8 | 90 | 16.9 | 23 | 10.3 | 43 | 25.1 |
Fair | 38 | 8.0 | 53 | 13.2 | 11 | 7.5 | 23 | 20.4 |
Poor | 12 | 6.6 | 11 | 10.4 | 5 | 13.5 | 6 | 20.0 |
P value | 0.722 | 0.312 | 0.152 | 0.268 |
Reasons for using CAM and OTC medicines
1992-1993 | 1994-1995 | 2000-2001 | 2003-2004 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | N = 112 | Wave 3 | N = 127 | Wave 6 | N = 44 | Wave 7 | N = 43 | |
Reasons of use of analgesics | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % |
Headache | 35 | 31.8 | 41 | 32.3 | 5 | 11.4 | 6 | 14 |
Specific pain | 19 | 17.3 | 16 | 12.6 | 4 | 9.1 | 5 | 11.6 |
General pain | 18 | 16.4 | 26 | 20.5 | 25 | 56.8 | 22 | 51.2 |
Other | 21 | 19.1 | 25 | 19.7 | 5 | 11.4 | 3 | 7.0 |
Arthritic pain | 11 | 10.0 | 15 | 11.8 | 2 | 4.5 | 4 | 9.3 |
Multiple reasons | 6 | 5.5 | 4 | 3.1 | 3 | 6.8 | 3 | 7.0 |
Missing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1992-1993 | 1994-1995 | 2000-2001 | 2003-2004 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | N = 34 | Wave 3 | N = 43 | Wave 6 | N = 17 | Wave 7 | N = 10 | |
Reasons of use of antithrombotic agents | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % |
Blood thinning &/or stroke prevention | 27 | 87.0 | 36 | 85.7 | 16 | 94.1 | 6 | 60.0 |
Unlikely reasons | 4 | 12.9 | 5 | 11.6 | 1 | 5.9 | 4 | 40.0 |
Other | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 2.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Missing | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
1992-1993 | 1994-1995 | 2000-2001 | 2003-2004 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | N = 40 | Wave 3 | N = 57 | Wave 6 | N = 22 N = 22 | Wave 7 | N = 33 | |
Reasons of use of multivitamins | N | %1
| N | %1
| N | %1
| N | %1
|
Supplement | 19 | 47.5 | 22 | 38.6 | 1 | 4.5 | 8 | 24.2 |
General health | 14 | 35.0 | 27 | 47.4 | 21 | 95.5 | 19 | 57.6 |
Energy boost or tiredness | 4 | 10.0 | 3 | 5.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 3.0 |
Other1
| 3 | 7.5 | 5 | 8.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 15.1 |
1992-1993 | 1994-1995 | 2000-2001 | 2003-2004 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | N = 32 | Wave 3 | N = 47 | Wave 6 | N = 8 | Wave 7 | N = 23 | |
Reasons of use of Vitamin C | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % |
Cold prevention and immune stimulation | 13 | 43.3 | 14 | 30.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 8 | 34.8 |
General health | 7 | 23.3 | 18 | 39.1 | 8 | 100 | 8 | 34.8 |
Supplement | 6 | 20.0 | 7 | 15.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 13.0 |
Other1
| 4 | 13.3 | 7 | 15.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 17.4 |
Missing | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |