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Information or Habit: What Health Policy Makers Should Know about the Drivers of Self-Medication among Romanians

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  • Elena Druică

    (Centre for Applied Behavioral Economics, Department of Economic and Administrative Sciences, University of Bucharest, 030018 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Cristian Băicuș

    (Department of Internal Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Rodica Ianole-Călin

    (Centre for Applied Behavioral Economics, Department of Economic and Administrative Sciences, University of Bucharest, 030018 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Ronald Fischer

    (School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
    Institute D’Or for Research & Teaching, Rio de Janeiro 22281-100, Brazil)

Abstract

We use the Knowledge, Perceptions and Practices framework to analyze determinants of three types of self-medication practices in Romania: (1) self-medication in the case of cold/flu/viral infections; (2) taking non-prescribed medicine in general; and (3) self-medication based on recommendations by others. We analyzed 706 responses to an online survey and used a factor-based Partial Least Squares algorithm (PLSF) to estimate the relationships between each type of self-medication and possible predictors. Our results show that self–medication is strongly predicted by non-cognitive behavioral factors such as habits and similarity of symptoms, while cognitive determinants such as knowledge and understanding of potential risks are not significantly associated with self-medication behaviors. This paper identifies nonlinear relationships among self-medication practices and its predictors and discusses how our results can help policymakers calibrate interventions with better accuracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Druică & Cristian Băicuș & Rodica Ianole-Călin & Ronald Fischer, 2021. "Information or Habit: What Health Policy Makers Should Know about the Drivers of Self-Medication among Romanians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:689-:d:480612
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Livio Garattini & Anna Padula, 2018. "Patient empowerment in Europe: is no further research needed?," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 19(5), pages 637-640, June.
    2. Dean, Kathryn, 1989. "Self-care components of lifestyles: The importance of gender, attitudes and the social situation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 137-152, January.
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