Department of Integrated Medical Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
National Security Student, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.
Clin Interv Aging. 2018 Apr 10;13:623-632. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S158501. eCollection 2018.
The aim of the study was to assess preferences and attitudes toward the use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs among residents of Bialystok aged 60 or older.
The study included 170 people, inhabitants of Bialystok aged over 60: 85 students of the University of a Healthy Senior and the University of Psychogeriatric Prophylaxis, and 85 students of the University of the Third Age in Bialystok. The study made use of a diagnostic survey conducted via a questionnaire prepared by the authors.
The vast majority of respondents bought OTC drugs for own use. About one-third of the respondents from each analyzed group bought OTC drugs less often than once every 3 months. Over half of the respondents bought OTC drugs due to a cold. A majority of the respondents were of the opinion that OTC drugs should be sold only in pharmacies. Over 40% of seniors took 1 OTC drug regularly. Most respondents also took vitamins and supplements. The main sources of information on OTC drugs for the studied seniors were their doctor and pharmacist. Respondents did not always consult the treatment method with a doctor or pharmacist. Over half of the respondents familiarized themselves with the contents of the OTC drug package leaflet. Over three-quarters of the respondents were familiar with drug disposal methods; however, despite declarations of being familiar with these principles, a significant percentage did not bring back medication to a pharmacy or clinic, or threw the drugs into the trash.
Our study found that in our sample there were many OTC drug consumers who did not always demonstrate responsible attitudes toward using this group of drugs. Thus, older people should be educated on the possible adverse effects of taking OTC drugs without consulting a doctor or pharmacist as well as basic drug disposal principles. Furthermore, legislation should be introduced that will limit the wide availability of OTC drugs, particularly to the elderly; and thus, lower the costs of hospitalization and outpatient treatment of this age group. Also, a wider-reaching study should be conducted. It should include a larger group of elderly people as well as information on intake of prescribed medications in order to be able to determine the frequency of drug consumption in this population, as well as seniors' preferences and attitudes in this regard.
本研究旨在评估比亚韦斯托克市 60 岁及以上居民对非处方 (OTC) 药物的使用偏好和态度。
本研究纳入了 170 名居住在比亚韦斯托克市、年龄在 60 岁以上的居民：85 名健康老年大学和精神老年预防大学的学生，以及 85 名比亚韦斯托克市第三年龄大学的学生。本研究采用了由作者编写的调查问卷进行诊断性调查。
绝大多数受访者购买 OTC 药物自用。在每个分析组中，约有三分之一的受访者购买 OTC 药物的频率低于每 3 个月一次。超过一半的受访者因感冒而购买 OTC 药物。大多数受访者认为 OTC 药物应仅在药店销售。超过 40%的老年人定期服用 1 种 OTC 药物。大多数受访者还服用维生素和补品。研究老年人获取 OTC 药物信息的主要来源是他们的医生和药剂师。受访者并非总是向医生或药剂师咨询治疗方法。超过一半的受访者会阅读 OTC 药物包装说明书的内容。超过四分之三的受访者熟悉药物处理方法；然而，尽管他们宣称熟悉这些原则，但仍有相当大比例的人没有将药物带回药店或诊所，或者将药物扔进垃圾桶。
我们的研究发现，在我们的样本中，有许多 OTC 药物消费者并非总是对使用这类药物表现出负责任的态度。因此，应该对老年人进行教育，让他们了解在未经医生或药剂师咨询的情况下服用 OTC 药物可能产生的不良反应，以及基本的药物处理原则。此外，应引入立法，限制 OTC 药物的广泛供应，特别是对老年人；从而降低该年龄段人群住院和门诊治疗的费用。此外，应开展更广泛的研究。该研究应包括更多的老年人，并提供有关规定药物摄入的信息，以便能够确定该人群的药物消费频率，以及老年人在这方面的偏好和态度。
