Evolution of medication consumption in a working environment in France: Results of the four waves of the “Drugs and Work” study (1986–2016)

Abstract

Objectives Previous studies in the working environment have underlined the high prevalence of drug consumption. The aim of this study was to present the main characteristics of this consumption in French workers and to identify changes from the 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016 surveys. Methods The design was a repeated cross‐sectional study in 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016. At each wave, demographic and socio‐professional characteristics, self‐reported consumption of medications during the week before the occupational medical visit, and perceived difficult working conditions and extraprofessional problems were collected among a sample of workers. Factors associated with consumption of any drug and of main therapeutic classes were investigated through multivariate logistic regression models, using 2016 as the reference for investigating temporal trends. Results Prevalence of use of any drug was significantly higher in 2016, with marked changes observed in comparison with 1986: absolute decrease of psychotropic (−5.1%, p < 0.0001), antibiotics (−2.7%, p < 0.0001) and cardiovascular drug use (−3.8%, p < 0.0001), increase of analgesic use (+8.3%, p < 0.0001). Difficult working conditions, age and female gender were independently associated with analgesic drug use, and extraprofessional problems and female gender associated with psychotropic drug use. Conclusions This analysis of self‐reported drug use in the working environment illustrates the global patterns of medication use in a French active population over 3 decades. The favorable development in the level of consumption of psychotropic drugs should not underestimate the attention to be paid to the determinants of chronic consumption, or possible transfers to less stigmatized medications.

Fluorine Mass Balance, including Total Fluorine, Extractable Organic Fluorine, Oxidizable Precursors, and Target Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, in Pooled Human Serum from the Tromsø Population in 1986, 2007, and 2015

“…However, the more frequent use of cosmetics might still be a possible explanation for the higher UEOF in women compared to men since cosmetics could also lead to exposure to yet unknown PFAS that are not oxidizable and therefore nondetectable in the TOP assay. A second explanation could lie in a difference in use of fluorinated pharmaceuticals between men and women since sex differences in prescription are reported for several pharmaceuticals groups. − Additionally, differences in elimination kinetics between men and women for these unidentified fluorinated chemicals could also play a role.…”

“…A second explanation could lie in a difference in use of fluorinated pharmaceuticals between men and women since sex differences in prescription are reported for several pharmaceuticals groups. 71 − 76 Additionally, differences in elimination kinetics between men and women for these unidentified fluorinated chemicals could also play a role.…”

Agencification, policy reversal and the reforms of the French health care system

“…In Ari ege, la Meuse, la Creuse et les Hautes-Alpes, there are only five dermatologists for The French health care system 100.000 residents. Despite the NPM rationing agenda, the French population remains one of the world's largest consumers of medicine, particularly antibiotics (Herin et al, 2021). NPM reforms resulted in a more complex health system.…”