Lam C L, Catarivas M G, Munro C, Lauder I J
General Practice Unit, University of Hong Kong.
Soc Sci Med. 1994 Dec;39(12):1641-7. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(94)90078-7.
A randomized telephone survey on the practice of self-medication in the preceding 2 weeks was carried out from October 1989 to April 1990 among Chinese living in Hong Kong. 1068 people were interviewed. Self-medication was a common and universal practice by Hong Kong Chinese with a prevalence of 32.5% in 2 weeks. Those who reported illness were significantly more likely than those who did not use self-medication (65 vs 18.2%) and to have used more than one item of medications (39 vs 20%). Chinese tonics were the most frequently used self-medications although they were the least known. Chinese medicines were used as often as Western medicines in the self-treatment of illnesses. People used self-medication mainly because they felt that they knew what to do. About 80% of the Western and Chinese medicines were perceived to be effective but only 49% of the tonics were reported so. Side effects were reported from all types of medications with an overall prevalence of 6.4%. There was a lack of knowledge of the possible side effects in over 96% of the self-medications which is an area for patient education. The popularity but the relative lack of knowledge of Chinese tonics call for more scientific research and better regulation on their sales.
1989年10月至1990年4月，对居住在香港的中国人进行了一项关于前两周自我药疗情况的随机电话调查。共采访了1068人。自我药疗是香港中国人普遍采用的做法，两周患病率为32.5%。报告患病的人比未进行自我药疗的人更有可能进行自我药疗（65%对18.2%），且使用的药物种类更多（39%对20%）。中药滋补品是最常使用的自我药疗药物，尽管人们对其了解最少。在疾病的自我治疗中，中药和西药的使用频率相同。人们进行自我药疗主要是因为他们觉得自己知道该怎么做。约80%的西药和中药被认为是有效的，但只有49%的滋补品被报告有效。所有类型的药物都有副作用报告，总体患病率为6.4%。超过96%的自我药疗存在对可能副作用缺乏了解的情况，这是需要对患者进行教育的一个方面。中药滋补品的普及但相对缺乏了解，需要对其进行更多的科学研究和更好的销售监管。
