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Table 2 Medication related characteristics of medication users (n and %)

From: Self-reported medication information needs among medication users in a general population aged 40 years and above – the Tromsø study

 

Medication users (n = 10,231)

n

%

In need of more information about own medications

 Yes

1,637

16.0

 No

8,594

84.0

Number of medications

 0

1,095

10.7

 1–4

7,200

70.4

 5–8

1,702

16.6

 9–12

207

2.0

  ≥ 13

27

0.3

Importance of own medications

 Not important at all

227

2.2

 Not very important

701

6.9

 Important

4,833

47.2

 Very important

4,414

43.1

Concern about own medications

 Not at all concerned

8,141

79.6

 Concerned

1,937

18.9

 Very concerned

97

0.9

Blood pressure lowering medications

 Currently

3,716

36.3

 Previously, not now

333

3.3

 Never used

5,989

58.5

Cholesterol lowering medications

 Currently

2,524

24.7

 Previously, not now

409

4.0

 Never used

7,023

68.6

Medications for heart diseasea

 Currently

2,029

19.8

 Previously, not now

270

2.6

 Never used

7,544

73.7

Insulin

 Currently

243

2.4

 Previously, not now

49

0.5

 Never used

9,538

93.5

Tablets for diabetes

 Currently

569

5.6

 Previously, not now

89

0.9

 Never used

9,228

90.2

Medications for hypothyroidism

 Currently

1,147

11.2

 Previously, not now

85

0.8

 Never used

8,647

84.5

Diuretics

 Currently

709

6.9

 Previously, not now

411

4.0

 Never used

8,655

84.6

Use of online services for advice on health and disease issues:

 Applications (apps)

  Once

204

2.0

  A few times

912

8.9

  Often

174

1.7

  Never

8,518

83.3

 Search engines (e.g., Google)

  Once

769

7.5

  A few times

3,473

33.9

  Often

551

5.4

  Never

5,191

50.7

 Social media (e.g., Facebook)

  Once

123

1.2

  A few times

474

4.6

  Often

161

1.6

  Never

8,820

86.2

 Video services (e.g., YouTube)

  Once

110

1.2

  A few times

309

3.2

  Often

48

0.5

  Never

9,081

95.1

  1. GP General practitioner
  2. aE.g., nitroglycerin, antiarrhythmics, anticoagulants