INFLUENCE OF THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION ON THE DEGREE OF COMPLIANCE OF THE POPULATION OF OLDER AGE GROUPS

Abstract

The purpose of the study: to study the influence of the level of education on the degree of compliance of the population of older age groups. Materials of research. Data from a survey of 1,045 people of both sexes aged 60 years and older were used. The proposed questionnaire included three questions that characterize the level of compliance with medical recommendations, as well as the attitude to self-medication. The results were evaluated for men and women separately in two age groups of 60–74 years and 75 years and older. Results. Women are more compliant with the doctor's prescriptions, as they are more likely to perform them in full. With increasing age, the degree of compliance significantly increases in both men and women, and therefore, the differences between the sexes are leveled. The level of education affects the behavior in relation to the fulfillment of doctor's appointments only in men in the age group of 75 years and older and does not affect the age group of 60–74 years. In women, there was no significant effect in both age groups. Men and women with higher levels of education are more likely to make doctor's appointments only in some cases. A greater proportion of non-respondents, that is, doubters, is also observed in the group of men and women with a high level of education, regardless of age. The results of responses to specific questions concerning the degree of compliance confirmed earlier conclusions about the greater degree of compliance of older women compared to men. A large proportion of doubting men and women with a high level of education, regardless of age, requires a more attentive attitude to them in terms of providing additional information about the need and importance of following doctor's prescriptions.