The Effect of a Global Health Shock on Preventive Drug Intake: Evidence from SHARE 2020-2022 for 15 European Countries

Self-medication is known to have potential harmful consequences. In times of a health shock, like the COVID-19 pandemic, preventive drug intake may imply irresponsible behaviour. To provide insight into this phenomenon, this study explores the preventive behaviour of 4,642 respondents of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) for the period 2020–2022 and 15 European countries. It aims at highlighting relevant drivers and relies on an econometric analysis backed by random-effects panel logistic as well as pooled logistic estimators. The results indicate that being female, more educated, with income, in worse health, or out of work due to COVID-19 relates to higher odds of using preventive drugs for COVID-19 disease. Interaction effects illustrate that those who report symptoms are additionally more likely to take preventive drugs when in poor health, with income, or having hardly any difficulties with making ends meet. Surprisingly, preventive drug intake when reporting symptoms decreases at older ages. No relevant impact is found for relationship status, financial distress, and country of citizenship. Overall, the study identifies important drivers of preventive drug intake informative for policymaking in the context of a health shock like COVID-19.