http://www.pagb.co.uk/pagb/downloads/marketinformation/A%20Picture%20of%20Health.pdf
Everyday Healthcare Study 1997
A Consumer Study of Self-medication in Great Britain
In 1986, PAGB the trade association for the manufacturers of over the counter medicines asked the British Market Research Bureau to conduct the first national survey of everyday healthcare in Britain. Ten years later, changes in the healthcare environment and market meant that there was a need for the 1986 research to be updated. In 1996/97 the study was repeated using the same methodology. Together these studies show how people in Britain view their health, their sources of advice and information and how they treat minor ailments. These data have been made available to government, health professional bodies, academics and the media. They underpin PAGB positions and comments on self-care in Britain.
What does the study show?
* The Everyday Healthcare Study shows that the British public are sensible and cautious in their use of medicines. We are not a pill for every ill society
* With the right advice and help people are confident that they can manage minor ailments themselves and they do so.
* People value the availability of over the counter medicines
* People find OTC medicines effective and they tend to use the same product each time they experience the same illness.
* The doctor is still the most important advisor and health care influence
* Many people are visiting doctors for advice and treatment of ailments that they could manage themselves
* With the right advice and help people are confident that they can manage minor ailments themselves and they do so.
* People value the availability of over the counter medicines
* People find OTC medicines effective and they tend to use the same product each time they experience the same illness.
* The doctor is still the most important advisor and health care influence
* Many people are visiting doctors for advice and treatment of ailments that they could manage themselves
Overview
* Methodology
* General health, lifestyle and attitudes
* Incidence and treatment of ailments
* Use of OTC medicines
* Children’s ailments, treatment and OTC use
* Conclusions
* General health, lifestyle and attitudes
* Incidence and treatment of ailments
* Use of OTC medicines
* Children’s ailments, treatment and OTC use
* Conclusions
Methodology
About 2033 interviews were conducted with adults aged 15+years over a period of one year (May 1996 - April 1997); interviewing was conducted for one week of every month and around 170 interviews were conducted per month. In order to maintain consistency between the data sets the same sampling method - Rolling Random Location - was used as was used in 1986. The data on children was gathered by interviewing housewives on the pattern of treatment of their children’s ailments. Face to face interview lasting on average 40 minutes.
General health, lifestyle and attitudes
Almost half (48 per cent) of all adults had a normal body mass index, but over a quarter are overweight (28 per cent) and 9 per cent are obese. 72 per cent of respondents claimed to take exercise at least once or twice a week, and 30 per cent claim to take exercise everyday
There is little difference in the BMI of respondents who claim to exercise most often compared with those exercising least
About a third (32 per cent) of respondents had dieted in the last year and many more women than men had done so (39 per cent of women/25 per cent of men)
Respondents’ rating of own health
70 per cent of respondents felt that their own health was ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ good. Only 6 per cent described their health as ‘poor’ the rest considering they were average. 50 per cent claimed not to worry very much or at all about their health not surprisingly, those rating their health as good were less likely to worry about their health. Nevertheless 25 per cent of those saying their health was good said they worried at least ‘a little ’ about it; versus 60 per cent of those rating their health as poor. The average days off work/in bed =7.6; higher for men and 35 - 49 year olds.
Vitamins and Food Supplements
* 35 per cent of respondents take vitamins/food supplements nowadays
* 69 per cent of those taking any, take only one product, but the mean number taken is 1.5, reflecting multiple usage by some respondents
* 69 per cent of those taking any, take only one product, but the mean number taken is 1.5, reflecting multiple usage by some respondents
Most frequently taken vitamins/supplements
| Cod liver oil/halibut oil | 14% (27%/65+) |
|---|---|
| Multivitamins | 10% |
| Vitamin C | 5% |
| Evening primrose/ starflower oil | 5% |
| Garlic oil/pearls capsule | 4% |
| Multivitamins and minerals | 3% |
Reasons for taking vitamins/supplements
| For arthritis/to ease joints | 25% |
|---|---|
| Replace things missing from diet/ help balance diet | 20% |
| Good idea/good for you | 17% |
| To prevent cold/viruses | 13% |
| For menstrual problems* | 13% |
| For the heart | 7% |
| Advised to | 6% |
| Feeling run down | 5% |
Attitudes to using doctors/pharmacists (1)
Incidence and Treatment of Ailments
Other ailments widely mentioned for last 12 months: Adults
Next tier of ailments all ‘well being related:
| feeling low | 37% |
|---|---|
| sleeping problems | 36% |
| stress | 34% |
| Others include: | |
| hangover | 33% |
| flu/virus | 33% |
| pain from injury/strain | 31% |
Ailments with substantial increases in 12 incidence
| Sleeping problems | 36% | +10 |
|---|---|---|
| stress | 34% | +10 |
| lip problems/cold sores | 22% | +10 |
| cough | 27% | +9 |
| sickness/nausea | 28% | +6 |
| diarrhoea | 25%+6 |
Other ailments widely mentioned for last 2 weeks: adults
Next tier
| Common cold | 14% |
|---|---|
| arthritis | 14% |
| hangover | 12% |
| acne | 12% |
Incidence in last 2 weeks: other changes since 1986
The top three ailments are the same as in 1986 study. Acne and colds have dropped out of top list; feeling low, stress and bruises have climbed into it. Other increases since 1986:
| asthma | 6% | +4 |
|---|---|---|
| eczema | 6% | +3 |
| hayfever | 5% | +3 |
| cough | 9% | +3 |
| pain from injury/strain | 11% | +3 |
Ailments experienced in a group
* 5.2 ailments per adult in the last 2 weeks.
* 59 per cent of adults say some ailments are linked
* treating each group/un-grouped ailment as a case of sickness, average number of cases of sickness = 3.4 in last two weeks.
* Ailments most likely to be linked with others are well-being problems (stress, feeling low, sleeping); also PMT, then sinus problems, muscle aches, upset stomach and sickness.
* Least likely are athletes foot, bunions and thinning hair
* 59 per cent of adults say some ailments are linked
* treating each group/un-grouped ailment as a case of sickness, average number of cases of sickness = 3.4 in last two weeks.
* Ailments most likely to be linked with others are well-being problems (stress, feeling low, sleeping); also PMT, then sinus problems, muscle aches, upset stomach and sickness.
* Least likely are athletes foot, bunions and thinning hair
‘Tiredness’
* 40% of adults had suffered ‘tiredness’ in last 2 weeks
* 66% of tiredness ailments were linked with other problems of those not linked, only 3% were serious enough to be taken to the doctor
* tiredness is most commonly experienced with sleeping problems, stress/anxiety, feeling low/depressed, headaches
* at lower levels, but above average association with acne and sickness/nausea
* 66% of tiredness ailments were linked with other problems of those not linked, only 3% were serious enough to be taken to the doctor
* tiredness is most commonly experienced with sleeping problems, stress/anxiety, feeling low/depressed, headaches
* at lower levels, but above average association with acne and sickness/nausea
Base: all ailments experienced in last 2 weeks (9032)
Did not use anything on some occasions 56%
Did not use anything on any occasion 48%
Sequence of actions
* Treatment used at first is likely to be continued
* exception is doctor’s visit, where subsequent action may well be using a prescription, or revisiting
* if OTC used at first, likely to continue with OTC?buy more: 77% of those using at first, continued to use
* 96% of those using nothing at first, continue to use nothing
* exception is doctor’s visit, where subsequent action may well be using a prescription, or revisiting
* if OTC used at first, likely to continue with OTC?buy more: 77% of those using at first, continued to use
* 96% of those using nothing at first, continue to use nothing
Actions taken: ailment experienced before/new
* 93% of ailments have been experienced before
* if ailment has been suffered before, it is less likely to be treated than a new ailment
* if it is treated it is likely that OTC/prescription medicine already to hand will be used
* if it is a new ailment, it is more likely that advice will be sought -primarily from a doctor
* if ailment has been suffered before, it is less likely to be treated than a new ailment
* if it is treated it is likely that OTC/prescription medicine already to hand will be used
* if it is a new ailment, it is more likely that advice will be sought -primarily from a doctor
Use of OTC medicines
Consultation resulting in no drug treatment (prescription or OTC) 29%
Length of using/reasons for stopping
* Average number of OTCs used = 1.14
* Almost two thirds of OTCs (64 per cent) used for a day or two or less, 24 per cent used only once
* By far most common reason for stopping was improvement:
* Almost two thirds of OTCs (64 per cent) used for a day or two or less, 24 per cent used only once
* By far most common reason for stopping was improvement:
o problem got better (81per cent)
o only taken when really bad (11per cent)
* Product not working is a very small problemo only taken when really bad (11per cent)
o product didn’t work percent
o getting no better/went to doctor (1 per cent)
o switched product (1per cent)
o getting no better/went to doctor (1 per cent)
o switched product (1per cent)
Children’s ailments: Treatment and OTC use
Comparison of Adult and Child Treatment
* As in 1986, more likely that something will be used for children’s ailments than adults
* and more likely to use an OTC already in house
* No longer the case that children’s ailments are more likely to be taken to the doctor than adult ailments, or that an OTC more likely to be bought for child ailment
* and more likely to use an OTC already in house
* No longer the case that children’s ailments are more likely to be taken to the doctor than adult ailments, or that an OTC more likely to be bought for child ailment
Reasons for using nothing:adults v children
* More willingness to use treatments for child ailments, but when untreated....
* Child ailments more likely to be considered:
* Child ailments more likely to be considered:
o not serious enough
o not necessary to treat
* Less likely:o not necessary to treat
o expectation it can’t be treated
o try to avoid medicines if I can
o try to avoid medicines if I can
Outcome of doctor consultations: adult v children
* As for adult ailments, two thirds result in prescription
* child ailments twice as likely as adult to be told ‘do nothing/come back if no improvement’ (32% of child ailments v 17% of adults ailments)
* no consultation for child ailment resulted in OTC recommendation (v. 5% of adult ailments)
* child ailments twice as likely as adult to be told ‘do nothing/come back if no improvement’ (32% of child ailments v 17% of adults ailments)
* no consultation for child ailment resulted in OTC recommendation (v. 5% of adult ailments)
OTC Experience: adult v child ailments
* Remedies for child ailments more likely to come from chemist/pharmacies
* 20% of OTCs for child ailments influenced by pharmacist ( adult OTCs 10%); health visitor/nurse also more influential
* OTCs used for child ailments used for shorter duration and problem even more likely to have got better than those for adults
* OTCs for child ailments perceived as even more effective and more likely to be used again than those for adults
* 20% of OTCs for child ailments influenced by pharmacist ( adult OTCs 10%); health visitor/nurse also more influential
* OTCs used for child ailments used for shorter duration and problem even more likely to have got better than those for adults
* OTCs for child ailments perceived as even more effective and more likely to be used again than those for adults
Conclusions
* No major changes since 1986
* indications of more awareness of, and anxiety about health
* rather more confidence about self treating
*
* indications of more awareness of, and anxiety about health
* rather more confidence about self treating
*
self treatment sensibly carried out
