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This book tries to determine patients perspectives regarding OTC medication, analyse incidence of irresponsible medication, and show reasons for predisposing factors that contribute to, and methods used to reduce these events.
Three quarters of the participants in this study were knowledgeable about the potential for abuse of some OTC drugs and most named analgesics as the most liable for abuse. Almost one third of the participants came across cases of OTC abuse. Participants were positive towards the health care being provided by their local pharmacy. They felt that pharmacists play an important role in providing advice on OTC medicines use.
The OTC drug abuse problem needs to be tackled urgently as shown by the number of participants witnessing such abuse. Patients with higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations were more likely to follow the directions on the packet. Patients with manual occupations were more likely to seek the advice of a pharmacist rather than a doctor if a given OTC product did not work within a recommended time period.

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