What do Self-Care and Self-Medication mean for Consumers Advancing Self-Care and Responsible Self-Medication for a Healthier Future 5 – 6 October 2015, Mexico City Dr. Gerald Dziekan, Director General World Self-Medication Industry (WSMI)

Self-Care and Self-Medication “Self-Care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, and maintain health and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health-care provider.” WHO working group, 2013 “Self-medication empowers patients to treat or prevent short term or chronic illnesses which they consider not requiring the consultation of a physician or which may be treated by the people after an initial medical diagnosis.” European Commission, 2008 “Self-care includes the actions people take for themselves (…) to stay fit and maintain good physical and mental health (…) prevent illness or accidents; care for minor ailments and long-term conditions.” UK Department of Health, Self-Care – A real choice, 2004

Challenges for Health Systems – Mega Trends NCDs, life-style diseases (“diseases of the affluent”) Demographic changes (ageing) Financial realities, challenges Globalization, societal change (health awareness, demand for involvement)

Growing demand for patient engagement, empowerment Internet consultations: Websites with disease- and drug-specific information webMD.com, patient.co.uk, familydoctor.co.uk Internet Fora for patients / consumers: 176 websites with patient information (2012, EU) 200 tested apps providing information and guidance to patients and consumers (2013, European Directory of Health Apps) Large number of organizations such as: International Alliance of Patient Organizations (e.g. portal on patient-centered healthcare), European Network on Patient Empowerment (ENOPE), national Self Care Fora / Alliances Online pharmacy: 1 in 5 prefer buying OTC medicines online; “.pharmacy” domain created (FIP communication) Overarching objective: to provide safe, high-quality medicines and to support safe and appropriate use of medicines Societal trends towards greater patient and consumer participation

% of population self-medicating Patient and Consumer driven Self-Care Top Five OTC Categories Searches on Google (2014, Google US data) 1 billion Vitamins & Supplements 650 million Pain Management 160 million Cold & Flu 120 million Heartburn 110 million Seasonal Allergies Consumer attitudes inform behaviour (PAGB, 2012) 67% The medicines you can buy are just as effective as those from the doctor 70%If I have a minor problem I am confident I can decide what to do 79% It is important to me to have medicines to buy for minor problems 86%I would buy the same medicine again

Understanding Influences on Self-Care Behavior The Consumer Journey, WSMI, 2014

Patient Engagement Health literacy - cognitive and social skills determining motivation and ability to access, understand and use information to promote and maintain health WHO definition of Health Literacy Patient activation – knowledge, skills, ability and willingness to manage own health and care Patient engagement – combines patient activation with an intervention More activated and engaged patients have better health outcomes Patients with lowest activation score incurred up to 21% higher costs than patients with highest activation score Health Policy Briefs, Health Affairs, February 2013

Evolving landscape for self-care – Role of the individual Daily choices Self- managed ailments Minor ailments Chronic conditions Acute conditions Major trauma Medical Care Lifestyle Compulsory psychiatric Care Collaborative CareSelf Care Limited engagement in healthcare Passive recipient of care Limited in influencing own health Engages in improvement of own health Proactive participation Able to influence own health Classic medical care system Empowered and health-literate people- driven self-care system Demand for involvement Patients / consumer organizations Internet (NetDoctor, social media etc.) mHealth Health literacy Patient empowerment

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