Table 2 Numbers and percentages of respondents using specific self-care practices for their primary long term health problem, in whole sample and in each primary health problem subgroup
From: Self-care in people with long term health problems: a community based survey
| Â | Primary health problem (n) | Back Pain (200) | Headache/migraine (57) | Tiredness/fatigue (90) | Tummy/bowel (103) | Stress/anxiety (99) | Menstrual (23) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | Mean number of self-care practices reported | 4.57 | 3.47 | 3.6 | 3.48 | 4.61 | 2.8 | |
Self-care practices | N | % | % | % | % | % | % | % |
Exercise | 246 | 43 | 57 | 21.1 | 27.8 | 35.9 | 52.5 | 26.1 |
OTC medications | 244 | 42.7 | 58.5 | 66.7 | 18.9 | 41.7 | 19.2 | 43.5 |
Positive thinking | 211 | 36.9 | 29 | 19.3 | 38.9 | 36.9 | 63.6 | 26.1 |
Sleep | 205 | 35.8 | 26.5 | 43.9 | 62.2 | 26.2 | 36.4 | 34.8 |
Heat | 185 | 32.3 | 60 | 19.3 | 13.3 | 25.2 | 12.1 | 17.4 |
Pacing | 160 | 28 | 35.5 | 15.8 | 33.3 | 11.7 | 35.4 | 13 |
Massage | 145 | 25.3 | 47.5 | 28.1 | 8.9 | 13.6 | 10.1 | 8.7 |
Vitamins | 132 | 23.1 | 24 | 19.3 | 28.9 | 25.2 | 14.1 | 30.4 |
Rest | 131 | 22.9 | 22.5 | 33.3 | 30 | 16.5 | 18.2 | 21.7 |
Contact friend/family | 111 | 19.4 | 10 | 8.8 | 13.3 | 13.6 | 56.6 | 17.4 |
Spend time alone | 99 | 17.3 | 10.5 | 19.3 | 20 | 13.6 | 33.3 | 8.7 |
Reduce activity | 80 | 14 | 17.5 | 8.8 | 16.7 | 9.7 | 14.1 | 4.3 |
Prayer | 79 | 13.8 | 10.5 | 7 | 11.1 | 16.5 | 26.3 | 4.3 |
Diet | 78 | 13.6 | 6.5 | 8.8 | 13.3 | 38.8 | 5.1 | 13 |
Meditation | 67 | 11.7 | 12.5 | 7 | 6.7 | 13.6 | 17.2 | 4.3 |
Drinking | 47 | 8.2 | 6.5 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 23.2 | 8.7 |
Cold | 42 | 7.3 | 14.5 | 14 | 2.2 | 1 | 1 | 4.3 |
Hobbies | 41 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 1.8 | 6.7 | 3.9 | 17.2 | 0 |
Support group | 16 | 2.8 | 2 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 6.1 | 0 |