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

OBJECTIVE

The extent of perceived knowledge and usage status regarding over-the-counter (OTC) drugs among Japanese citizens remains unclear. This study aims to assess OTC drug use through a pilot cross-sectional survey.

RESULTS

Conducted on April 30, 2023, at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, the survey garnered 180 valid responses. Among these, 76.1% were female and 56.1% aged 16-19 years. Over the past year, 70.6% used OTC drugs, and price (60.0%), effectiveness (50.0%), and ingredients (43.3%) were the top three factors focused on during OTC drug selection. Most respondents (97.2%) were aware of Package Inserts (PI), with 51.7% reading them before purchasing or using new OTC drugs. 10% reported online purchases. However, 17.2% were unaware of expiration dates, and only 43.3% read storage and handling instructions from PI. This study indicates moderate proper use of OTC drugs but highlights risks due to low awareness of storage precautions and expiration dates. Results are preliminary; further research is needed for generalization.