Prevalence, characteristics, and cost of self-treatment in the middle-aged and elderly: observations from Henan, China

- This study provided an updated description of self-treatment for the middle-aged and elderly in China.
- Self-treatment remains an important approach for coping with illness and incurs considerable cost.
- Most of the self-treated illness are aging-related and recurrent, with self-medication as the most common treatment approach.
- Demographic and personal characteristics as well as healthcare conditions are associated with prevalence and cost.