[Drugs and health awareness in the population]

The authors made surveys of the health consciousness of groups of junior (20-30 years) and senior (above 60 years) citizens in the CSR. The use of medical services was significantly higher in the older persons. Complete satisfaction with the standard and availability of medical care was recorded only in 25% junior and 60% senior respondents. 22% of the respondents, mainly the younger ones, provide their own treatment. As to drugs which are available without prescription, analgesics are required most, followed by medicines used in case of a cold or cough. Women buy drugs and medicines more frequently than men. Expenditure on drugs varies between 5 and 50 Kcs per month. Drugs prescribed by doctors are taken by 84% of the junior and 87% of the senior patients. It is of interest that 69% of the respondents report that they keep left over drugs, while 31% of the patients discard them. From the investigation it is obvious that there are major shortcomings in the knowledge, attitudes and action of the population in relation to drugs. It is important to increase in this respect health educational efforts, but also the cooperation of doctors, pharmacists and patients to improve pharmacotherapy.