The Pharmacist as an Information Source for Nonprescription Drugs

Abstract

Consumer sources of OTC drug information were investigated by querying 250 residents in a large midwestern city with a mail questionnaire. Results from an analysis of 163 respondents (69.4 percent) indicated that the majority of these people use the physician and pharmacist equally for OTC drug information. Moreover, they perceive them equally reliable for information on these drugs. Other significant findings were: 1) television commercials rank third in use and seventh in reliability, 2) elder respondents and respondents without children use the physician and pharmacist less for OTC drug information than younger respondents and respondents with children in their households, and 3) approximately half the respondents purchase their OTC drugs in pharmacies. This study concludes because many pharmacists are being trained as drug advisors with federal funds, and because consumers use and perceive him reliable as an OTC drug advisor, that the FDA should inform consumers on OTC drug labels that the pharmacist is a reliable source of OTC drug information.