Abstract
Due to the shortage of literature related to the safe use of over‐the‐counter (OTC) products by patients worldwide, the aim of this study was to evaluate people's knowledge and attitudes regarding the use of OTC products in Jordan. Using an internet‐based questionnaire mainly spread through social media platforms, a descriptive cross‐sectional study was conducted with Jordanian candidates who consume OTC products. A total of 274 OTC product users answered the survey questions. The results showed that analgesics were the most commonly used OTC products among the participants (50.4%). The majority used the OTC products only as needed rather than on a regular basis. Only 42.4% of the participants sought a pharmacist's help in determining the dose of the OTC medicine. Most of the participants were very interested in reading a patient information leaflet (80.3%) and the side effects and contraindications (89.5%). The majority of participants agreed that antibiotics have to be prescribed (68.5%), and anti‐allergy medications should not be used as sleep aid medications (75.0%). About 53.4% thought that OTCs are sometimes enough to treat their health conditions without the need to follow‐up with a physician. A chi‐square analysis showed an association between gender, age, educational level and having a family member in the medical field and OTC products knowledge among Jordanians. Females, for example, were more interested in reading leaflet, checking production and expiry dates, knowing adverse effects, and appropriate storage conditions (P < .001, 0.022, 0.003, 0.007, respectively). We concluded that a good level of knowledge on the use of OTC products among the study population was identified in the present study.
Highlights
OTC medications are considered an important element of health care in Jordan 3 and the use of OTC products has steadily increased in the pharmaceutical market.[4]
The survey was piloted among known OTC product users (n = 4)
The knowledge and attitudes of Jordanians regarding OTC was overall good in most aspects of the study
Summary
Over-the-counter (OTC) products include nonprescribed medications such as analgesics, cough and cold medicines, and anti-fungal medications.[1,2] OTC medications are considered an important element of health care in Jordan 3 and the use of OTC products has steadily increased in the pharmaceutical market.[4]. Since OTC products are dispensed without a prescription, they are perceived by the public as a safer medicine compared to the prescribed ones.[5,6,7] This perception has led patients to diagnose their own health and use inappropriate self-medication.[8] Misuse or abuse of OTC products by overusing a single agent or using too many different drugs to treat serious diseases 9 has led to misdiagnoses,[10,11] masking of serious conditions,[12] addiction and dependency,[13] kidney, liver, or gastric damage,[14] and other health problems. Jordanians use OTC products, and the potential for abuse or misuse does exist.[15,16,17]
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