The Awareness of Risks Associated with OTC Drugs Available in Non-Pharmacy Outlets among Polish Patients—A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Settings
2.2. Survey Instrument
2.3. Data Analysis
2.4. Ethics
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Sum (n = 400) | |
---|---|
Gender | |
Female | 275 (68.75%) |
Men | 125 (31.25%) |
Age | |
18–30 | 233 (58.25%) |
31–40 | 40 (10.00%) |
41–50 | 36 (9.00%) |
51–60 | 39 (9.75%) |
61–70 | 40 (10.00%) |
Over 70 | 12 (3.00%) |
Place of residence | |
Village | 73 (18.25%) |
City < 10 thousand. | 24 (6.00%) |
City 10–50 thousand | 57 (14.25%) |
City 50–100 thousand | 53 (13.25) |
City 100–500 thousand | 161 (40.25%) |
City > 500 thousand | 32 (8.00%) |
Diseases of the cardiovascular system | |
Yes | 80 (20.00%) |
No | 320 (80.00%) |
Sum (n = 80) | |
Cardiovascular disease | |
Hypertension | 55 |
Heart failure | 4 |
Arrhythmia | 15 |
After myocardial infarction | 2 |
Diabetes | 19 |
Lipid disorders | 16 |
Atherosclerosis | 9 |
After stroke | 1 |
Congenital heart defect | 4 |
Time of hospitalization | |
3 months ago | 3 (3.75%) |
6 months ago | 1 (1.25%) |
9 months ago | 1 (1.25%) |
12 months ago | 5 (6.25%) |
More than 12 months ago | 13 (16.25%) |
No | 51 (63.75%) |
I don’t remember | 6 (7.50%) |
I don’t understand the question | 0 (0.00%) |
Medications used in cardiovascular disease | |
Amlozek (amlodipine) | 7 |
Captopril | 8 |
Xartan (losartan) | 2 |
Lacipil (lacidipine) | 2 |
Siofor (metformin) | 12 |
Isoptin (verapamil) | 0 |
Prestarium (perindopril) | 21 |
Valsacor (valsartan) | 0 |
Bisocard (bisoprolol) | 31 |
Areplex (clopidogrel) | 3 |
Tritace (ramipril) | 1 |
Enarenal (enalapril) | 0 |
Dilzem (diltiazem) | 3 |
Metocard (metoprolol tartarate) | 3 |
Diaprel (glicazide) | 6 |
Atrox (atorvastatin) | 1 |
Simvacard (simvastatin) | 11 |
Romazic (rosuvastatin) | 2 |
Others | 4 |
Sum (n = 400) | |
Knowledge the term of the “OTC” | |
Yes | 185 (46.25%) |
No | 215 (53.75%) |
Frequency of buying “over-the-counter” medicines | |
More than once a week | 3 (0.75%) |
Once a week | 7 (1.75%) |
2–3 times a month | 41 (10.25%) |
Once a month | 100 (25.00%) |
Less than once a month | 246 (61.5%) |
No | 3 (0.75%) |
Place to buy “over-the-counter” medicine outside of the pharmacy | |
Liquor store | 16 |
Grocery store | 132 |
Post office | 3 |
Supermarket | 139 |
Drugstore | 121 |
Petrol station | 48 |
Newsstand | 28 |
Internet | 44 |
Only in the pharmacy | 79 |
Intensity of Purchasing OTC Drugs outside the Pharmacy | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sum (n = 400) | Sum (n = 400) | ||||||
Yes | Rather Yes | I Don’t Know | Rather No | No | Regression | p-Value | |
Do the following factors affect the choice of over-the-counter medicines outside the pharmacy? | |||||||
Low prices | 135 (33.75%) | 85 (21.25%) | 61 (15.25%) | 49 (12.25%) | 70 (17.50%) | −0.117 | 0.123 |
Urgency | 270 (67.50%) | 58 (14.50%) | 47 (11.75%) | 9 (2.25%) | 16 (4.00%) | 0.200 | 0.132 |
Longer opening of a given store/station than a pharmacy | 159 (39.75%) | 72 (18.00%) | 71 (17.75%) | 42 (10.50%) | 56 (14.00%) | 0.112 | 0.223 |
“Saving time” (when shopping) | 168 (42.00%) | 88 (22.00%) | 66 (16.50%) | 32 (8.00%) | 46 (11.50%) | 0.277 | 0.005 |
Do you have any awareness of the following factors arising from purchasing drugs outside the pharmacy? | |||||||
The lack of pharmacist’s consultation/advice | 305 (76.25%) | 49 (12.25%) | 24 (6.00%) | 19 (4.75%) | 3 (0.75%) | 0.329 | 0.007 |
Improper storage | 192 (48.00%) | 86 (21.50%) | 52 (13.00%) | 47 (11.75%) | 23 (5.75%) | −0.238 | 0.004 |
Risk of overdose | 189 (47.25%) | 66 (16.50%) | 48 (12.00%) | 66 (16.50%) | 31 (7.75%) | −0.189 | 0.013 |
Risk of purchasing out-of-date drugs | 171 (42.75%) | 69 (17.25%) | 52 (13.00% | 65 (16.25%) | 43 (10.75%) | −0.145 | 0.047 |
Risk of purchasing falsified drugs | 139 (34.75%) | 52 (13.00%) | 88 (22.00%) | 62 (15.50%) | 59 (14.75%) | −0.159 | 0.027 |
Do you think you need to consult a pharmacist on a given topic? | |||||||
Dosage of “OTC” drugs | 161 (40.25%) | 68 (17.00%) | 80 (20.00%) | 57 (14.25%) | 34 (8.50%) | −0.105 | 0.170 |
Side effects resulting from using OTC drugs | 159 (39.75%) | 85 (21.25%) | 74 (18.50%) | 48 (12.00%) | 34 (8.50%) | −0.062 | 0.431 |
Interactions of OTC drugs with medicines used in the treatment of chronic diseases | 217 (54.25%) | 71 (17.75%) | 78 (19.50%) | 19 (4.75%) | 15 (3.75%) | −0.141 | 0.131 |
Storage of OTC drugs | 139 (34.75%) | 68 (17.00%) | 93 (23.25%) | 70 (17.50%) | 30 (7.50%) | −0.114 | 0.147 |
Drug–food interactions | 162 (40.50%) | 85 (21.25%) | 88 (22.00%) | 44 (11.00%) | 21 (5.25%) | −0.190 | 0.025 |
Drugs with dietary supplements interactions | 162 (40.50%) | 87 (21.75%) | 88 (22.00%) | 43 (10.75%) | 20 (5.00%) | −0.131 | 0.125 |
Do you think that using medicinal products simultaneously has impact on the health? | |||||||
Aspiryna + Prestarium = Renal failure | 105 (26.25%) | 38 (9.50%) | 233 (58.25%) | 9 (2.25%) | 15 (3.75%) | −0.199 | 0.058 |
Aspiryna + Ibuprom = Prolonged bleeding | 163 (40.75%) | 51 (12.75%) | 160 (40.00%) | 14 (3.50%) | 12 (3.00%) | −0.015 | 0.882 |
Aspirin + Areplex = Prolonged bleeding | 121 (30.25%) | 43 (10.75%) | 220 (55.00%) | 9 (2.25%) | 7 (1.75%) | −0.080 | 0.466 |
Aspirin + Bisocard = Hypetension | 117 (29.25%) | 44 (11.00%) | 209 (52.25%) | 11 (2.75%) | 19 (4.75%) | −0.164 | 0.099 |
Aspirin + Furosemid = Renal failure | 120 (30.00%) | 48 (12.00%) | 204 (51.00%) | 13 (3.25%) | 15 (3.75%) | −0.078 | 0.442 |
Ethanol + Apap = Liver damage | 228 (57.00%) | 40 (10.00%) | 118 (29.50%) | 5 (1.25%) | 9 (2.25%) | 0.090 | 0.413 |
Aspirin + Apap = Prolonged bleeding | 153 (38.25%) | 44 (11.00%) | 170 (42.50%) | 15 (3.75%) | 18 (4.50%) | 0.009 | 0.922 |
Ibuprom + Areplex = Prolonged bleeding | 113 (28.25%) | 35 (8.75%) | 227 (56.75%) | 12 (3.00%) | 13 (3.25%) | −0.041 | 0.684 |
Ibuprom + Furosemid = Renal failure | 121 (30.25%) | 34 (8.50%) | 219 (54.75%) | 13 (3.25%) | 13 (3.25%) | −0.044 | 0.661 |
Ibuprom + Captorpil = Hypertension | 106 (26.50%) | 37 (9.25%) | 268 (67.00%) | 11 (2.75%) | 15 (3.75%) | −0.016 | 0.877 |
Aspirin + Siofor = Hypoglycemia | 107 (26.75%) | 34 (8.50%) | 239 (59.75%) | 7 (1.75%) | 13 (3.25%) | −0.084 | 0.418 |
Do you think the following symptoms of overdose of OTC drugs that are available outside the pharmacy affect the health of the human body significantly? | |||||||
Headaches and dizziness (Aspirin, Ibuprom) | 140 (35.00%) | 109 (27.25%) | 102 (25.50%) | 42 (10.50%) | 7 (1.75%) | 0.074 | 0.456 |
Enlargement of the liver (Apap, Gripex) | 127 (31.75%) | 83 (20.75%) | 139 (34.75%) | 12 (3.00%) | 9 (2.15%) | 0.137 | 0.196 |
Jaundice (Apap, Gripex) | 146 (36.50%) | 65 (16.25%) | 147 (36.75%) | 23 (5.75%) | 19 (4.75%) | 0.071 | 0.448 |
Indigestion, stomachache, nausea and vomiting (All of them) | 149 (37.25%) | 112 (28.00%) | 117 (29.25%) | 16 (4.00%) | 6 (1.50%) | 0.110 | 0.312 |
Breathing difficulties (Aspirin) | 160 (40.00%) | 67 (16.75%) | 144 (36.00%) | 17 (4.25%) | 12 (3.00%) | 0.088 | 0.368 |
Heart failure (Coffepirine) | 161 (40.25%) | 65 (16.25%) | 149 (37.25%) | 15 (3.75%) | 10 (2.50%) | 0.020 | 0.839 |
What are the proposed solutions you believe will contribute to reducing or eliminating the threat of drugs from the non-pharmacy market? | |||||||
Reducing dose | 97 (24.25%) | 65 (16.25%) | 72 (18.00%) | 103 (25.75%) | 63 (15.75%) | 0.042 | 0.573 |
Presence of a pharmacist in every drug distribution center | 140 (35.00%) | 82 (20.50%) | 72 (18.00%) | 69 (17.25%) | 37 (9.25%) | −0.020 | 0.798 |
Reducing the amount of tablets in the package | 73 (18.25%) | 56 (14.00%) | 70 (17.50%) | 117 (29.25%) | 84 (21.00%) | −0.077 | 0.326 |
Introducing a ban on the sale of drugs to minors and those under the influence | 180 (45.00%) | 86 (21.50%) | 52 (13.00%) | 46 (11.50%) | 36 (9.00%) | −0.049 | 0.531 |
Introduction of licenses for the distribution of medicines without a prescription | 198 (49.50%) | 88 (22.00%) | 62 (15.50%) | 29 (7.25%) | 23 (5.75%) | −0.013 | 0.882 |
Regular inspections conducted by the Main Pharmaceutical Inspectorate and tightening of penalties | 217 (54.25%) | 97 (24.25%) | 57 (14.25%) | 20 (5.00%) | 9 (2.25%) | −0.057 | 0.580 |
Removal of non-pharmacy trade | 153 (38.25%) | 51 (12.75%) | 81 (20.25%) | 70 (17.50%) | 45 (11.25%) | −0.196 | 0.007 |
Medications should only be available in pharmacies | 159 (39.75%) | 54 (13.50%) | 61 (15.25%) | 62 (15.50%) | 64 (16.00%) | −0.239 | 0.001 |
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Dulęba, J.; Religioni, U.; Słodka, E.; Fal, A.; Krysiński, J.; Merks, P. The Awareness of Risks Associated with OTC Drugs Available in Non-Pharmacy Outlets among Polish Patients—A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare 2021, 9, 187. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9020187
Dulęba J, Religioni U, Słodka E, Fal A, Krysiński J, Merks P. The Awareness of Risks Associated with OTC Drugs Available in Non-Pharmacy Outlets among Polish Patients—A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare. 2021; 9(2):187. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9020187
Chicago/Turabian StyleDulęba, Jacek, Urszula Religioni, Emilia Słodka, Andrzej Fal, Jerzy Krysiński, and Piotr Merks. 2021. "The Awareness of Risks Associated with OTC Drugs Available in Non-Pharmacy Outlets among Polish Patients—A Cross-Sectional Study" Healthcare 9, no. 2: 187. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9020187