Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of outpatients attending a public tertiary medical center in southern Sri Lanka (N = 409)
Characteristic | n (%) |
|---|---|
Age | |
< 18 years | 88 (21.6%) |
18–64 years | 283 (69.5%) |
≥ 65 years | 37 (9.1%) |
Gender | |
Male | 153 (37.6%) |
Female | 254 (62.4%) |
Education1 | |
No formal education | 25 (6.1%) |
≤ 11th grade | 254 (62.3%) |
12th grade or higher | 129 (31.6%) |
Chronic medical conditions2 | |
No chronic medical conditions | 280 (68.6%) |
Hypertension | 49 (12.0%) |
Hyperlipidemia | 40 (9.8%) |
Asthma | 39 (9.5%) |
Diabetes mellitus | 31 (7.6%) |
Chronic kidney disease | 3 (0.7%) |
Chronic liver disease | 2 (0.5%) |
Presenting symptom | |
Cough | 59 (14.5%) |
Musculoskeletal pain | 55 (13.5%) |
Skin rash or boil | 34 (8.4%) |
Rhinorrhea or nasal congestion | 33 (8.1%) |
Fever | 31 (7.6%) |
Wound | 25 (6.1%) |
Abdominal pain | 15 (3.7%) |
Chest pain | 11 (2.7%) |
Numbness | 11 (2.7%) |
Headache | 10 (2.5%) |
Sore throat | 10 (2.5%) |
Ear pain | 7 (1.7%) |
Dysuria | 6 (1.5%) |
Wheezing | 5 (1.2%) |
Shortness of breath | 4 (1.0%) |
Fatigue/lethargy | 4 (1.0%) |
Bleeding | 2 (0.5%) |
Enlarged lymph node | 2 (0.5%) |
Medication refill | 2 (0.5%) |
Other | 81 (19.9%) |
Previous evaluations for current illness2 | |
No previous evaluations | 196 (47.9%) |
General practitioner | 81 (19.8%) |
Outpatient Department | 114 (27.9%) |
Traditional/Ayurvedic practitioner | 9 (2.2%) |
Other healthcare provider | 24 (5.9%) |
Previously medicated for current illness2 | |
Non-prescription medication | 66 (16.1%) |
Prescription medication | 176 (43.0%) |
Traditional/herbal medicine | 60 (14.7%) |
No previous medications | 138 (33.7%) |