Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

To take care of personal health Russians follow doctors` advice and rely on personal experience and relatives` advice in case they want to improve their looks.

MOSCOW, January 21, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how Russians take care of their health; what medicines they take, and where they get information to solve health problems.

The overwhelming majority of Russians take care of their health (84%).  Most of them go to doctors and follow their instructions (38%); they also avoid bad habits (36%). One-quarter of respondents (25%) prefer watching TV programs about healthy lifestyle or read special magazines. Another one quarter of respondents (25%) check their health regularly and undergo medical examination. Twenty-two percent of Russians try to have some rest. Every fifth do physical exercises or sports (21%).

Only 25% of Russians assess the right nutrition as one of the ways to take care of heath; 8% take dietary supplements. Fifteen percent of Russians admit that they do not take care of health at all.

Those who are most worried about health are women (90% women vs.  74% men).  They avoid smoking and drinking alcohol (47%) and visit doctors if needed (44%); they also watch TV shows, read healthy lifestyle magazines (33%) and check up their health regularly (30%). Men more often do sports (27%). The older the respondents are, the rarer they do sports (49% among 18-24-year-old Russians vs. 9-10% among those aged over 45). At the same time, elderly Russians more often read special literature or watch TV shows about healthy lifestyle (19% among 18-24-year-old Russians vs. 39% among retired persons).

The most popular way to improve the looks is to rely on personal experience and advices of relatives (37%). Those who think so are basically women (45%) and young Russians under 35 (40-41%). In this case Russians rarer go to doctors 16%.  The older the person is, the more popular this practice is. Fewer Russians report that they start a healthy lifestyle if they want to improve their appearance (12%); most of them are young Russians. Every tenth prefer going to beauty salon (9%), mainly female respondents (14%).  Only 2% of Russians, regardless of their age or gender, turn to traditional medicine.

Remarkably, every fourth Russian report he/she does not do anything special (24%). And 15% of Russians report they do not have health problems at all.

The main source of information about how to solve health problems is doctor’s instructions (51%), followed by advices of relatives (47%). In 38% of cases Russians report that they cure themselves using personal experience. One-third of respondents say that they get information from TV shows (30%). Every fifth Russian point out the Internet (22%). Russians also mention information materials in drug stores and clinics, print media (9%, per each), and radio (3%).

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on December 1-2, 2012. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

Can you say “I take care of my health”? If yes, what exactly do you do for that?
(close-ended question, any number of answers, % of respondents  )

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

In case I am ill I go to a doctor and follow his/her instructions

38

32

44

I do not smoke and do not drink

36

23

47

I watch TV programs about  healthy lifestyle  and read special books and magazines

25

15

33

I eat right

25

20

29

I check up my health regularly; I undergo health examination

25

18

30

I try to have some rest  

22

20

23

 I do physical training and sports  

21

27

17

I take vitamins and food supplements

8

5

11

No

15

23

9

Hard to tell

1

2

1

What do you usually do when you are not satisfied with the way you look (skin, hair, appearance)?
(close-ended question, not more than two answers, % respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

I get health advice from doctor

16

13

18

I visit beauty salon

9

3

14

I turn to traditional healers and therapies

2

1

3

I cure myself using my experience and knowledge, as well as advices of friends and relatives

37

28

45

I start living healthy lifestyle (right nutrition, sports)  

12

12

11

I do not have such problems

15

21

9

I do nothing

24

30

19

Other

1

1

1

Hard to tell

2

3

2

Everyone have occasional health problems. 

Where do you get information about how to handle these problems?

 (open-ended question, any number of answer, %  respondents)

Doctor`s advice

51

Advices of relatives, friends

47

Personal experience, knowledge

38

Television

30

Internet

22

Information materials in drugstores, clinic and special stores

9

Print media

9

Radio 

3

Other

1

Hard to tell

2

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!

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