Institute of Administration of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Fam Pract. 2010 Jun;27(3):333-8. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmp105. Epub 2010 Jan 12.
Patients increasingly use over-the-counter medicines for self-treatment but such products can be misused and/or abused. The primary aim of the present study is to survey the relationship between pharmacists and self-medication, to give an overview of their opinions on advertisements of non-prescription drugs and to evaluate the knowledge of and familiarity with medicines held by individuals purchasing them for self-treatment.
A marketing research study of non-prescription drugs in multiple pharmacies between March and July 2008 was conducted. A total of 2000 questionnaires were handed out, of which 1486 were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13.0 software.
The majority of participants (72.5%) visited a community pharmacy at least once per month. Half of the respondents reported taking medications regularly. Forty per cent of those surveyed consult a qualified professional about their decision before buying non-prescription medications. Forty-four per cent of respondents reported asking pharmacists about the effects of non-prescription medications.
This survey revealed that the general public has a high level of awareness concerning the abuse potential of over-the-counter medicines. Health care professionals should seek to understand and respect patients' choices to assure optimal care. Pharmacists could be more proactive in the management of inappropriate over-the-counter drug use.
患者越来越多地使用非处方药物进行自我治疗，但这些产品可能会被误用和/或滥用。本研究的主要目的是调查药剂师与自我用药之间的关系，概述他们对非处方药广告的看法，并评估购买这些药物进行自我治疗的个人对药物的了解和熟悉程度。
2008 年 3 月至 7 月期间在多家药店进行了一项非处方药营销研究。共发放了 2000 份问卷，其中 1486 份进行了评估。使用 SPSS 13.0 软件进行统计分析。
大多数参与者（72.5%）每月至少光顾一次社区药店。一半的受访者报告定期服用药物。在购买非处方药之前，有 40%的受访者会就自己的决定咨询合格的专业人士。有 44%的受访者表示会向药剂师询问非处方药的效果。
这项调查显示，公众对非处方药物滥用的潜在风险有很高的认识。医疗保健专业人员应努力理解和尊重患者的选择，以确保提供最佳护理。药剂师可以在管理不适当的非处方药物使用方面更加积极主动。
