Medication and Health Product Use Among Older Thais Adults : Behavioral Insights and Policy Recommendations: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background : Inappropriate medication and health product use (M&HP) among the elderly: impact health and health care costs. This study examined the behaviors and factors influencing medication and health product selection among elderly individuals in northeastern Thailand. Methods: The Cross-sectional study was conducted among elderly participants residing in northeastern Thailand. Data were collected from 1,461 elderly individuals between March and November 2022. Personal characteristics and M&HP use behaviors were analyzed using descriptive statistics and factors influencing inappropriate M&HP use were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results : 78.6% of participants had chronic diseases. When unwell, most sought care from clinics or hospitals. However, 84.46% used products without consulting professionals, and 52.9% relied on recommendations. Only 41.9% sought additional information about medications. Most behaviors were risky. Factors like unemployment and chronic diseases were associated with inappropriate medication use. Conclusion : Thai elderly individuals, particularly those with chronic diseases and unemployed, are at risk of inappropriate medication and health product use due to easy access and lack of skills and assistance in accessing quality information. Our findings offer actionable insights for improving rational medication use and promoting health literacy among aging populations, aligning with global health priorities and those of Israel and similar aging societies.