Decision-Making and Self-Medication: Preliminary Findings

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Abstract
A longitudinal panel study of the self-medication behavior of 278 households was performed. Data are presented on over 3,300 instances of illness or injury and 3,800 drug procurements. The average panel household reported about 12 illnesses during the 30-week period. About one-fourth of these illnesses involved a doctor contact and over 90% included drug therapy. Over 60% of, the illnesses were treated with nonprescribed drugs only, with therapy being started within four hours of the onset of symptoms in 75% of these incidents. The average household obtained 8.5 prescriptions and 5.2 nonprescription drugs during the panel period. The average inventory of drug products on hand at the beginning of the survey was about five prescription and 17 nonprescription drugs.

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