RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To know the role of drugs and their use from the point of view of the National Health System users. DESIGN: Development of a qualitative method: focal groups of discussion. SITE: Health Area 3 of Zaragoza (Spain) which belongs to the Spanish National Health System. POPULATION: Groups of eight people who are representative of the rural and urban population. MAIN MEASUREMENT AND RESULTS: There were different meeting of one hour and a half for each. All of them started with the same question: What utility, use, and functions have drugs for all of you? All the session were recorded on video-tape and cassette to facilitate its typewriting. The general opinion was that users did not like to take drugs, nevertheless, it was a tool to solve easily and fast a health problem. At the same time, it was a cheap resource comparing to others as massage, health resort, diets... Drugs are seen as interchange currency in the medical bureau. There were critical opinions against abusive consumption of drugs. There is a lack of information concerning the utility and actions of drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The speech of user groups shows opposing points of view related to health professional opinions concerning drugs request from users and the role of drugs in the relationship doctor-patient.
