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Safety of non-prescription medicines: knowledge and attitudes of Italian pharmacy customers

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Abstract

Objective A survey was designed to investigate customers attitudes and knowledge toward non-prescription medicines taken on a self-medication basis but not devoid of risks. Setting Community pharmacies in Italy. Method Forty-four pharmacies participated in the project. On the basis of an anonymous questionnaire, face-to-face interviews were made to customers buying a non-prescription medicine over a 2-month period. The questionnaire included information about socio-demographic characteristics of the interviewed subjects and 18 items designed to elicit information about the kind of medicine purchased and reason of use, general product knowledge in relation to quality and risks, attitudes toward this kind of drugs, concurrent prescription drug use and the quality of relationship with the pharmacist. Results During the study period, 613 interviews were collected. The most frequently non-prescription medicines purchased by customers were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol and medicines for gastrointestinal problems. The most of interviewees referred to read carefully the package inserts or to ask information to pharmacists. Moreover, they reported to consider non-prescription medicines easy to manage and to be used only for minor ailments and for short periods. 55.3% of customers reported to have been taking at least a prescription drug, mostly antihypertensives or other cardiovascular medicines, in association with non-prescription medicines. In this situation, interviewees often did not inform pharmacists about chronic therapies. Conclusion Our interviews demonstrate that, in general, Italian customers have a cautious approach toward non-prescription medicines and are informed on their use. However, in case of a long-term use, interviewees underestimate risks related to possible physiological/pathological changes in their organism or to interactions with other drugs.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Pharmacists’ Association of Verona for the collaboration and to Dr. Anna Cordioli for her support.

Funding

No external sources of funding have been obtained for this work.

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medicine & Public Health, University of Verona, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 37134, Verona, Italy

    Laura Cuzzolin & Giuseppina Benoni

Authors
  1. Laura Cuzzolin
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  2. Giuseppina Benoni
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura Cuzzolin.

Appendix: items included in the pre-structured questionnaire for customers

Appendix: items included in the pre-structured questionnaire for customers

  1. 1.

    What kind of drug are you purchasing in this moment (prescribed or not prescribed)?

  2. 2.

    In details, which drug and for which health problem or symptom?

  3. 3.

    Do you buy the non-prescription medicine for you or others (children, husband/wife, parents…)?

  4. 4.

    Who has advised you?

  5. 5.

    How frequently have you purchased a non-prescription medicine in the last 12 months?

  6. 6.

    When you purchase a non-prescription medicine, do you read the package insert?

  7. 7.

    When you purchase a non-prescription medicine, do you ask for information to the pharmacist?

  8. 8.

    If not, why?

  9. 9.

    Have you taken a prescription drug in association to the non-prescription medicine?

  10. 10.

    If so, which and for which problem?

  11. 11.

    Was the pharmacist informed?

  12. 12.

    If so, did you receive information about potential interactions?

  13. 13.

    In your opinion, non-prescription medicines possess a pharmacological activity?

  14. 14.

    In your opinion, how non-prescription medicines should be used?

  15. 15.

    In your opinion, are non-prescription medicines easy to manage?

  16. 16.

    How do you consider the role of pharmacists in relation to non-prescription medicines?

  17. 17.

    What do you think about the safety of non-prescription medicines?

  18. 18.

    Do you look at Internet to buy or seek advices about non-prescription medicines?

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Cuzzolin, L., Benoni, G. Safety of non-prescription medicines: knowledge and attitudes of Italian pharmacy customers. Pharm World Sci 32, 97–102 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-009-9348-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-009-9348-2

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