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prescription drug use could be explained to a certain extent by female-specific conditionsand use of female-specific drugs. 383Aiken et al. analyzed two models to determine predictors of utilization ofprescription drugs using data for elderly 65 years and older (N=1,872) from NMCUESfor 1980. The dependant variable in one model was initial prescription drug use andrefilled prescription drug use in the second model. Perceived morbidity and cost-sharingwere strong predictors of prescription drug use in both models. Gender and race werefound to have both direct and indirect effects on initial and refilled prescription drug use.Age had an indirect effect on both initial and refilled prescription drug use. Caucasiansand women were reported to have higher utilization levels of prescription drugs. 384According to a study by Metge et al. on Manitobians (N=1.14 million) using datafor 1996, after 15 years of age, more women than men were consistently using at leastone prescription drug. Overall, women used 9.7 prescriptions whereas men used 7.9prescriptions per year. Overall, 73.0 percent of women and 59.4 percent of men weredispensed at least one prescription drug. Use of prescription drugs also increased withage. A total of 563 drugs were dispensed among 1000 residents 5-9 years of age; 812prescriptions per 1,000 residents in the 65-69 age group; and 857 in 1,000 residents in the80-84 age group. The study reported that the gender difference in use of prescriptiondrugs was due to the use of female-specific drugs such as oral contraceptives. 385383384385Zodoroznyj M, Svarstad BL. Gender, employment and medication use. Social Science and Medicine.1990;31(9):971-978.Aiken MM, Smith MC, Juergens JP, et al. Individualized determinants of prescription drug use amongnoninstitutionalized elderly. Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology. 1994;3(1):3-25.Metge C, Black C, Peterson S, et al. The population use of pharmaceuticals. Medical Care.1999;37(Supplement 6):JS42-JS59.160