Influence factors of self-medication among residents in Tianjin

Objective To explore current situation and influence factors of self-medication among residents in Tianjin city and to provide evidences for relevant strategy-making.Methods Totally 1 724 residents who visited First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Baokang Hospital were randomly investigated with a questionnaire.Ordinal regression was employed in data analyses.Results Among the respondents, the number of the persons of never, sometimes, and often having self-medication were 208(12.1%), 787(45.6%), and 729(42.3%), respectively.Ordinal logistic regression results showed that the respondents of male, the minority, married, divorced and windowed, with education of college or higher, with a better self-reported health status, without special outpatient service for severe disease, and having good understanding on medical insurance policy were more likely to take self-medication, with the odds ratios of 1.367(versus female), 2.054(versus Han nationality), 1.472(versus unmarried), 2.002(versus married), 1.597(versus education of primary school or lower), 1.324(versus with bad self-reported health status), 1.192(versus with special outpatient service), and 1.618(versus lacking good understanding on medical insurance policy), respectively.Conclusion Health education on medicine and improved system of licensed pharmacists are important measures for the promotion of appropriate self-medication in the residents.