Survey of Consumer Views on Non-prescription Drugs and Self-Medication after the Revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Act in 2009

DOI 2 Citations
  • Narui Koji
    Department of Self-Medication and OTC, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
  • Ohta Junki
    Department of Self-Medication and OTC, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
  • Yamada Yuko
    Department of Self-Medication and OTC, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
  • Suetsugu Daisaku
    Tokyo Crude Drugs Association
  • Watanabe Kinzo
    Department of Self-Medication and OTC, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences

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  • 改正薬事法施行後における一般用医薬品とセルフメディケーションに関する一般消費者の意識調査

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Objective: To clarify consumer views on the new sale system of non-prescription drugs, self-medication, and purchases in drugstores after the revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Act in 2009.<br>Methods: The questionnaire was performed for 1,084 consumers on an enlightenment event of the proper use of non-prescription drugs and promotion of adequate self-medication held at Shinjuku Station that was a main terminal station.<br>Results: Among the respondents, the degree of recognition of the new sale system for non-prescription drugs was 67.7%.  There was approximately threefold increase from the previous survey in 2008.  The most common positive reason was, “The safety of non-prescription drugs was clarified by classification according to three risk levels.”  On the other hand, the most common negative reason was, “I was unable to reach the medicine I wanted without having to listen to the pharmacist’s explanation.”  When consumers want to purchase non-prescription drugs, 77.1 and 44.5% of the respondents nominated “pharmacy and/or drugstore” and “a convenience store,” respectively.  The practice of self-medication positively correlated with the words “the self-medication.”  In this study, a surge in consumer interest for self-medication and non-prescription drugs was felt.  However, while consumers were interested in the safety of non-prescription drugs, they also demanded convenience.<br>Conclusions: We thought that the role of experts such as pharmacists and registered salesclerks was to ensure safety, convenience, and understandability of consumers for non-prescription drugs.  In addition, to promote adequate self-medication, it was suggested that recognition of the words “self-medication” will be helped through events, the Internet, and the mass media.  It needs to be further explored.

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