Meaning reconstruction of mentality among villagers toward using medications: a qualitative study

Using arbitrary of drugs and visiting frequency of specialistare important problems in Iran and can be studied in the field of medical sociology. In recent years, using medications and visiting specialists in villages have not been only medical problems but also cultural and social problems that have imposed considerable costs to the health system. This study was conducted to examine participants’ mentality toward using medications. This qualitative study was performed with 50 people using the ethnography and open-ended in-depth interview technique. The participants were selected using theoretical sampling, and the data were collected through observation and analyzed using the grounded theory method. The results of the study comprised five categories, including the changing rural lifestyle, changed attitudes toward treatment, patients influenced by the rural culture, gaining reputation and prestige out of using medications, and using medications more than needed. Moreover, excessive purchase and use of medications was the focus of this study. The results showed that treatment and using medications in villages was a cultural problem that was somehow influenced by the changes in rural lifestyle and lack of a specific treatment process and appropriate pattern of medication use. In villagers’ view, visiting specialists was a kind of prestige and indicated valuing patients. Frequent changes of physician according to others’ recommendation and use of others’ experiences were of special importance. Furthermore, they were proud of going to well-known hospitals in large cities and even buying foreign medications.