Table 1 Respondent background characteristics

Age, median (range), y

59 (21–81)

44 (18–71)*

Gender (male), No. (%)

47 (42%)

25 (50%)

Education, No. (%)

≤ Year 12 or equivalent

52 (47%)

24 (48%)

> Year 12 or equivalent

59 (53%)

26 (52%)

Income (weekly $AU household, before tax), No. (%)

< $650

47 (42%)

12 (24%)

≥ $650

46 (41%)

27 (54%)

Prefer not to answer

18 (16%)

11 (22%)

Health Care Concession Card Holder (yes), No. (%)

72 (65%)

26 (52%)

Private Health Insurance (yes), No. (%)

57 (51%)

20 (40%)

Number Household Dependents, No. (%)

0

86 (77%)

32 (64%)

≥ 1

25 (23%)

18 (36%)

Ever Taken Prescribed Medications (no), No. (%)

0 (0%)

6 (12%)*

Complementary/Natural Therapy Use (yes), No. (%)

54 (49%)

23 (46%)

Beliefs about Medication – general, mean (sd)

26.9 (5.8)

24.6 (5.4)*

Number of prescribed medications, median (range)

3 (0–24)

Not Applicable