Abstract
In order to assess the effects of prescription-only (Rx) to over-the-counter (OTC) drug switches and related policies, it is imperative to distinguish self-medication from OTC drug use. The objective of this study was to estimate the OTC drug use in the adult population in Germany, to identify its predictors and to highlight methodological differences when compared to the study of a self-medication prevalence. Seven-day prevalence of OTC drug use was calculated on the basis of information provided by 7091 participants of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1) conducted between 2008 to 2011. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of OTC drug use. Seven-day prevalence of OTC drug use was higher in women (47.16%) than in men (33.17%). Female gender, an age of more than 60 years, reduced health status, Rx drug use, and multi-morbidity were identified as predictors of OTC drug use. The levels of OTC drug use were higher than the self-medication prevalence found in the same data set probably because some OTC drugs are commonly prescribed by physicians. Drug utilization studies should, therefore, make a methodological distinction between self-medication and OTC drug use depending on whether the focus is on drug safety or the impact of regulatory decisions on the trade status.
Highlights
The use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs is a subject of high relevance to public health policy.Over past decades, many active ingredients, which previously had been prescription-only (Rx) drugs, have become available OTC [1,2,3]
The levels of OTC drug use were higher than the self-medication prevalence found in the same data set probably because some OTC drugs are commonly prescribed by physicians
Make a methodological distinction between self-medication and OTC drug use depending on whether the focus is on drug safety or the impact of regulatory decisions on the trade status
Summary
The use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs is a subject of high relevance to public health policy.Over past decades, many active ingredients, which previously had been prescription-only (Rx) drugs, have become available OTC [1,2,3]. The use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs is a subject of high relevance to public health policy. European health care systems have revised their policies on the reimbursement of OTC drugs [4]. In order to monitor the effects of these policy changes in the general population, it is important to assess the prevalence of OTC drug use and possible predictors thereof. Apart from a few exceptions, OTC drugs have not been reimbursable by statutory health insurance funds in persons over the age of 12 years in Germany since 2004 [5]. In adults and children over the age of 12 years, the use of OTC drugs can, not be measured with routinely collected data from statutory health insurance funds. In order to trace the effects of Rx-to-OTC switches and related policies, reimbursement decisions and health policies linked to OTC drugs, it is imperative
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