Approximately 20% of Spaniards take non-prescribed medication and women are the group most inclined towards this practice. This is the conclusion of a research carried out by experts from the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, which also links this habit to nationality, income level and alcohol and tobacco consumption amongst the population."In spite of the negative connotations generally associated with the idea of self-medication, it is actually the most significant method of self-care for the population", explains Pilar Carrasco, main author of the study and head of the department of Preventative Medicine Public Health, Immunology and Microbiology at the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid.
According to the research, published in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 20.17% of Spaniards use medication without a medical prescription. Of those, it is the women that self-medicate more than the men (with a prevalence of 16.93% compared to 14.46%).
This gender-based difference can be explained by referring to the exposure to the consumption of medication, which is higher in women than in men. This is due to the fact that "women are more likely to suffer from emotional disorders and are more vulnerable in our society", says Carrasco. She adds: "This may be due to a greater disposition among women to acknowledge and voice theirsymptoms".
To carry out the study, scientists used data gathered between 2006 and 2007 from 20,738 people through the National Health System. Age, sex, nationality, marital status, level of education and occupational status were the independent variables analysed.
According to the research, published in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 20.17% of Spaniards use medication without a medical prescription. Of those, it is the women that self-medicate more than the men (with a prevalence of 16.93% compared to 14.46%).
This gender-based difference can be explained by referring to the exposure to the consumption of medication, which is higher in women than in men. This is due to the fact that "women are more likely to suffer from emotional disorders and are more vulnerable in our society", says Carrasco. She adds: "This may be due to a greater disposition among women to acknowledge and voice theirsymptoms".
To carry out the study, scientists used data gathered between 2006 and 2007 from 20,738 people through the National Health System. Age, sex, nationality, marital status, level of education and occupational status were the independent variables analysed.
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