Self-medication model and evidence from Portugal
Abstract
Purpose
The self-medication (SM) practice has been increasing in Europe, due to either an information policy for medicinal products or to highly educated people. The paper aims to consider a time constraint in the consumer decision optimization problem and test the optimal choices, using data from Portugal. Moreover, the author tries to understand the factors that determine the choice of SM.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the paper finds the optimal choices of a consumer using consumer theory. Then, the paper uses data from Portugal which is characterised by a universal public health system. The paper estimates a simple probit for SM. The estimation is run on adults, and also on gender and on age subsamples.
Findings
The main results show that waiting time is not a simple concept. While people may accept waiting a long time for an appointment and may not choose SM; waiting in the doctor's office is looked down upon and so choosing SM seems to be faster and more preferable. The results also show that there are some differences in the factors that explain SM according to age and gender, which matters for policy purposes.
Originality/value
The empirical work on SM in Europe is original. Taking into account a time constraint is new in the agent decision model of health demand.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
JEL classification – I11, D12, C25 The author is grateful for the comments and suggestions of the participants in the 11th National Conference in Health Economics – APES, Portugal, 2009.
Citation
Isabel Tavares, A. (2013), "Self-medication model and evidence from Portugal", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 40 No. 11, pp. 990-1009. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-02-2012-0026
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited