Minvielle D, Jougla E, Diaz-Valdes R, Maguin P
Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 1979 Sep 18;27(2):101-19.
A survey on digestive morbidity and demand for medical care in a pilot area concerned 3504 persons, eighteen years old and over; 69.3 p. 100 of them reported that they had been affected by one or several digestive symptoms during the previous year. However, it concerns mostly just common symptoms, probably benign, observed in all age groups; only 9.4 p. 100 of those complaining (half of them being old persons) reported disorders which can be suspected as serious ones. Among the subjects presenting symptoms, there is a majority of women, of urban population, of higher educational levels and higher social classes. During this year 18.9 p. 100 of the total population sought medical advice for digestive symptoms, the average number of consultations being 0.7 for every subject. This demand is related to the age, the number and gravity of the complaints, and to the presence of a digestive history; 24.5 p. 100 of the subjects used self medication: this is related to the perception of benign disorders, to digestive history, sex and social class: factory workers, farm workers and self-operating farmers are using this least. Women complain of digestive disorders more often than men and practice self medication more frequently. They do not report serious symptoms or a history of digestive disease more often than men, nor do consult doctors more frequently.
一项针对试点地区3504名18岁及以上人群的消化系统发病率和医疗需求调查显示，其中69.3%的人报告称他们在过去一年中曾受到一种或几种消化系统症状的影响。然而，这些大多只是常见症状，可能是良性的，在所有年龄组中都有观察到；只有9.4%的有症状者（其中一半是老年人）报告了可能被怀疑为严重疾病的病症。在出现症状的人群中，女性、城市人口、受过高等教育和社会阶层较高的人占多数。在这一年中，18.9%的总人口因消化系统症状寻求医疗建议，每个受试者的平均咨询次数为0.7次。这种需求与年龄、症状的数量和严重程度以及是否有消化系统病史有关；24.5%的受试者使用自我药疗：这与对良性疾病的认知、消化系统病史、性别和社会阶层有关：工厂工人、农场工人和个体农民使用自我药疗的比例最低。女性比男性更常抱怨消化系统疾病，也更频繁地进行自我药疗。她们报告严重症状或消化系统疾病史的频率并不比男性更高，咨询医生的频率也不比男性更高。
