Full Description
In the early 1970s, the consumption of both prescribed and non-prescribed medicines in Britain was increasing. Originally published in 1972, this book takes a look at the medicine takers and the types of medicine they take. It examines the relationship between self-medication and prescription, and describes the frequency and nature of repeat prescribing. The medicines kept in a random sample of households were counted and analysed, and data about the length of time people hoarded medicines is used as a basis for estimating the proportion of prescribed medicines that are wasted.
By putting the views and habits of people as patients alongside information from their general practitioners the study illuminates the relationship between patients and doctors. In addition, variations between people in different social classes direct light on the distribution of care and the equity of services at the time
Contents
Acknowledgments. 1. Introduction 2. Ill Health and Medication 3. The Nature of Medication 4. Frequency and Length of Medication 5. Who Takes the Medicines? 6. General Practitioners' Views and Practices 7. Medicines in the Home 8. Patterns in the Use of Commonly Taken Medicines 9. Discussion. Appendices. References. Index
