TABLE 4.

Acceptable alternatives to prescribing.

Variable	Total (N = 782)		Public (N = 379)		Private (N = 403)		Chi-square test
	n	%	n	%	n	%
Advice on what to buy over the counter	359	46	121	32	238	59	< 0.001
A different medicine that is only available on prescription	235	30	101	27	134	33	0.044
A homeopathic remedy	86	11	63	17	23	6	< 0.001
An injection of vitamins	236	30	92	24	144	36	< 0.001
Referral to a traditional healer	51	7	28	7	23	6	0.34
Information and reassurance about the illness	271	35	94	25	177	44	< 0.001
I would only be satisfied if I was given an antibiotic	144	18	92	24	52	13	< 0.001