Title: Factors related to the chemical substance use of physicians, pharmacists, and nurses in Taiwan

Authors: Blossom Yen-Ju Lin; Li-Hua Huang; Yung-Kai Lin; Lih-Jyh Fuh; Suhsing S. Lee; Edward Chen; Cheng-Chieh Lin

Addresses: Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Rd., Taichung, 404, Taiwan ' Tai-Lin Community Pharmacy, 206, Sec. 2, Tailin Rd., Taishan Dist., New Taipei City, 243, Taiwan ' Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 160, Sec. 3, Chung-Kang Rd., Taichung, 407, Taiwan; Department of Business Administration, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo Kuang Rd., Taichung, 402, Taiwan ' Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Rd., Taichung, 404, Taiwan ' Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Chang Jung Christian University, 1, Changda Rd., Gueiren District, Tainan City, 711, Taiwan ' Tai-Lin Community Pharmacy, 206, Sec. 2, Tailin Rd., Taishan Dist., New Taipei City, 243, Taiwan ' College of Medicine, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Rd., Taichung, 404, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, 2 Yuh-Der Road, Taichung, 404, Taiwan; College of Health Science, Institute of Health Care Administration, Asia University, 500, Lioufeng Rd., Wufeng, Taichung, 413, Taiwan

Abstract: Using chemical substances for self-medication may be regarded not simply as free choice but as the result of complex behaviours involving social, environmental, and economic contexts, and even as an attempt to cope with life. The objective of this study was to determine the possibility of patterns or factors related to the use of chemical substances by physicians, pharmacists and nurses. This study revealed distinct correlates of chemical substance use among different health professional occupations: females, working in medical centres, earning higher monthly incomes, and experiencing higher levels of work stress were related to the chemical substance use of physicians; pharmacists working in clinics, more work experience in the current organisations, and experiencing higher levels of work stress were related to chemical substance use; and nurses with lower levels of perceived health status compared with peers exhibited a higher propensity to use chemical substances.

Keywords: chemical substance use; physicians; doctors; pharmacists; nurses; work stress; health status; Taiwan; self-medication; health professionals; healthcare; chemical substances.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPP.2013.056590

International Journal of Public Policy, 2013 Vol.9 No.4/5/6, pp.416 - 434

Received: 04 Sep 2012
Accepted: 20 Mar 2013
Published online: 31 Jan 2014 *

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