Self medication and health habits in the management of upper gastrointestinal symptoms

Upper gastrointestinal symptoms are a common complaint among the general po pulation but only a small proportion of sufferers seek medical advice. The aim of this study was to examine what kind of perceptions persons using sel f medication have about the causes of their gastrointestinal symptoms, whet her they have made any health- related lifestyle changes, and whether visit s to a physician are related to lifestyle changes. A pharmacy-based survey was done in 10 pharmacies in the Helsinki area in 1995. The questionnaire w as completed by 292 customers. The response rate was 53%. Respondents in a population-based health interview survey (n = 10410) were used as a compari son group for poor health-behavior (consumption of tobacco, alcohol, coffee ). The most common perceived causes of gastrointestinal symptoms were poor diet, coffee, and stress. Ignorance about possible causes of symptoms was e specially common among less educated respondents and among those persons wh o had never visited a physician due to their symptoms. Respondents were sig nificantly more often smokers and they had attempted to reduce their coffee and alcohol consumption more often than the general population. Those who had visited a physician during past year, less often had poor health-behavi or and they had better knowledge about the possible causes of their symptom s. They had also made lifestyle changes more often, but after adjustment fo r background characteristics, physician visits were positively correlated o nly with coffee reduction. Counseling about healthy lifestyles, especially about smoking, should be increased in physician consultations and in pharma cies for all patients and customers having gastrointestinal problems. (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.