Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy (한국임상약학회지)

Korean College Of Clinical Pharmacy (한국임상약학회)
권호 표지

Changes in Perception of Consumers for Non-prescription Drug Policy since Sales Begins at the Outside of Pharmacy

일반의약품 약국 외 판매 이후의 일반의약품 정책에 대한 소비자의 인식 변화

  • Kim, Eun Hee (Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University) ;
  • Bang, Joon Seok (Graduate School of Clinical Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University)
  • 김은희 (숙명여자대학교 임상약학대학원) ;
  • 방준석 (숙명여자대학교 임상약학대학원)
  • Received : 2014.07.07
  • Accepted : 2014.09.22
  • Published : 2014.09.30
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Abstract

Purpose: This study was aimed to identify the status of utilization of healthcare services and self-care behaviors, knowledge level and influencing choice factors of non-prescription drugs (OTCs) on consumers since sales of OTCs at the outside of pharmacy in Korea, and to confirm the changes in perception of consumers for OTCs policy through check of perception level for current OTCs policy. Methods: Data was collected from April 2014 to May 2014 from questionnaires by 418 adults who are in university located in Seoul or live in Seoul Metropolitan area but not health science major and healthcare providers. Results: The female gender was 56.6% and University students were 73.9%. The ratio by age was as follows: below 25 (60.9%), 26-30 (18.2%), 30-40s (14.9%) and 50-60s (6.0%). The knowledge level of OTCs for use of medicine, dose and side effects was generally low and especially they knew little how to deal with side effects after taking OTCs on sale at the outside of pharmacy, even though over one year has passed since the policy. The proportion of those who thought the current OTCs policy has problems regarding safety issues since the policy was very high and it was also high that the study group thought there are problems with the current way to sale OTCs and educate employees. Conclusion: After selling OTCs at the outside of pharmacy, the consumers still lacked knowledge of OTCs and did not get correct information properly. Especially, they had little information about the way to deal with side effects after taking OTCs. Public policy should be based on the health of the people and the public health is a national health priority. When all these things are taken into consideration, the government has to strengthen the OTCs policy and provide a safer environment with the accurate drug information for people than developing OTCs policy in the future.

Keywords

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