A brief report of the status of self-medication with over-the-counter drugs: A pilot cross-sectional survey

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Abstract

Objective The extent of the perceived knowledge and use status of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by Japanese citizens is unclear. This study aims to assess OTC drug use via a pilot cross-sectional survey of visitors to the University Festival. Results Of 180 valid answers, the female ratio was 76.1%. 56.1% were 16–19 years old. 70.6% of the respondents used OTC drugs in a recent year, and the top three factors focused on when they chose OTC drugs were price (60.0%), effectiveness (50.0%), and ingredients (43.3%). 97.2% responded that they are aware of the Package Insert (PI), and 52.0% read PI at least before purchasing or using new OTC drugs. 10.0% exhibited online purchasing experiences. 17.2% responded that they were unaware of the expiration dates, and only 43.3% read the information on storage and handling methods from PI. This study revealed a moderate prevalence of proper use of OTC drugs. A relatively low focus on precautions for storage and handling and unawareness of the expiration date may be risky. Due to limitations, the results of this pilot study may not be interpreted generally, and further investigations are needed.

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