Societal perspectives on over-the-counter (OTC) medicines

Abstract

Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are increasingly used for self-medication, but such products can be misused/abused.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the general public's opinion and perceptions of OTC medicines, including the misuse/abuse of such preparations.

Methods: Data were collected using a survey administered to 1000 members of the public in 10 study sites in Northern Ireland, using a structured interview technique. The questionnaire was divided into four sections addressing: (a) attitudes towards community pharmacy and patients' contact with pharmacies; (b) attitudes towards the use of OTC medicines; (c) views on OTC medicines in terms of safety, potency and effectiveness; and (d) knowledge and opinion of abuse/misuse of OTC medicines. Data were coded and entered into a custom designed SPSS database for statistical analysis.

Results: The majority of participants (74.6%) visited a community pharmacy at least once per month. Almost one-third (32.2%) of participants reported buying OTC drugs at least once per month and the majority (86.4%) would always or often follow the directions on the product. The general public in Northern Ireland were highly aware of the abuse potential of some OTC drugs, with the majority naming painkillers as the products most liable for abuse. Almost one third of the participants reported having personally encountered cases of OTC abuse.

Conclusions: This survey revealed that the general public had a high level of awareness of the abuse potential of OTC medicines. These findings indicate that pharmacists could be more proactive in the management of inappropriate OTC drug use.