Abstract

GONZALEZ GONZALEZ, Jaime et al. The art of curing: Difference in Administration routes in rural and urban settings. Rev Clin Med Fam [online]. 2009, vol.2, n.7, pp.340-343. ISSN 2386-8201.

Objective. To determine patient preference as regards administration route and the differences between urban and rural settings. Design. Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. Participants. Patients who visited their primary care doctor due to pain and who needed analgesic treatment. Principal measurements. Visual pain scale for the pain intensity variable. Other variables: sociodemographic (sex, age, place of residence, educational level), administration route preference and administration route efficacy. Results. A total of 400 subjects (33% men and 66% women with a mean age of 58 years) were surveyed. 59% lived in an urban setting and 41% in a rural setting. 44.6% classified their pain as moderate, 42% as severe, 4.2% as mild and 4.2% as unbearable. 48% preferred parenteral, treatment, 50% oral treatment and 1.8% topical treatment. When asked about the efficacy at equal doses, 74% preferred parenteral treatment, 8.9% oral treatment and 19.6% thought it was the same for both. Younger persons with a university education preferred oral treatment. Preference for parenteral route was higher in the rural setting than in the urban setting. although the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions. Preference for parenteral administration is greater in the rural setting and in persons over 65 years, mainly because they consider this route more effective. Younger persons, those with a university education and those who live in an urban setting prefer oral treatment, mainly because it is more convenient. The administration route should be decided on with the patient because the patient's willingness to be treated may assist in the therapeutic effect of the medication.

Keywords : Prescriptions, Drug; Infusions, Parenteral; Administration, Oral.

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