Over-the-counter medicine and dietary supplement consumption among academic youth in Poland

Abstract

This version is available at https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/55549/ Strathprints is designed to allow users to access the research output of the University of Strathclyde. Unless otherwise explicitly stated on the manuscript, Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. Please check the manuscript for details of any other licences that may have been applied. You may not engage in further distribution of the material for any profitmaking activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute both the url (https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/) and the content of this paper for research or private study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge.Any correspondence concerning this service should be sent to the AbstractOver-the-counter (OTC) medicines and dietary supplements are increasingly popular in Poland, potentially improving overall health but also posing a threat to public health. The study goal is to characterize and assess behaviors related to use of OTC medicines and dietary supplements among Polish university students. A questionnaire-based survey was performed with students divided into groups (gender, subjects studied, period of studies). The majority of students declared using the products, significantly more females and younger students in their early years. Females tended to be more attentive to product information. Students with a background in biological or medical sciences were also more attentive and less influenced by advertising. We conclude that the differences between the defined groups of students should be utilized in tailored educational activities, aiming to rationalize high consumption of OTC medicines and dietary supplements. Targeting other, especially poor and less-educated groups, should follow.

The Use of Otc Herbal Sedatives by Pharmacy Patients – A Questionnaires-Based Survey Study

“…The vast majority (91%) of our respondents had secondary or higher education and only 9% had an elementary or vocational education. This data was similar to the Barrenberg and Garbe outcomes in the German population, also to the Calamusa outcomes in Italy, and to the Bochenek outcomes in Poland (18)(19)(20). Different results were obtained in Sweden by Hakonsen where no differences in the educational level were observed (16).…”

“…Half of the respondents read the information on the leaflet (51%). Also in the Bochenek and Wozniak-Holecka studies, a majority of patients interviewed found information about products on the leaflet (20,21). Most respondents, as reported by Calamusa, read the leaflet every time they bought an herbal medication (18).…”

The Prescription to Over-the-Counter Switches and Double Registration of Medicines - The Perspective of Pharmacists From the Greater Poland.

“…Nonetheless, such an attitude of Polish pharmacists may result from the common access of OTC medicines in Poland. Apart from pharmacies, some OTC medicines might be available from herbal shops, groceries and petrol stations (2,19). In light of the inevitable growth of the OTC drug market and an increase in the number of RX-to-OTC switches, it could be advisable to create classes of OTC drugs.…”

“…Pharmaceuticals belong to the most heavily advertised goods in terms of advertising budgets, thus the overwhelming scope of information coming from media may contribute to miscomprehension. It is confirmed by the observation that more than 30% of Poles make their OTC drug choices based on advertising (19). Therefore, medicines can be misused or overused by the patients who, wrongly convinced that they know everything about medicines or fail to read OTC drugsí leaflets (2).…”

Analysis of Dynamics in Hospital Admissions Due to Poisonings by Nonopioid Analgesics, Antipyretics and Antirheumatics (T39 ICD-10) in Lower Silesia Region of Poland in Years 2006-2012

“…In Poland the over-the-counter (OTC) medications and dietary supplements became popular in the last decades [1]. Almost 90% of households in Poland acquire medical drugs without prescription of a physician -in the most cases this way are bought painkillers and non-steroid-anti-inflammatory drugs [2].…”