Gerard Lee See, Florencio Arce Jr, Joan Caño, Judey Ann Plaza
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the commonly consumed OTC medicines and the factors that influence consumer’s use of OTC and evaluate the consumer’s awareness on OTC medicines.
Methodology: A total of 100 respondents participated in the study. Random sampling, using the odd – even basis, was used to select the respondents in the different drugstores in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City. Slovin’s formula was used to compute for the sample size. A validated questionnaire was used in the study including queries on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the respondents with regards to OTC medicine use.
Results and Conclusion: Results showed that the five most commonly consumed OTC medicines are: combination tablet of 10 mg phenylephrine HCl, 2 mg chlorpheniramine maleate, and 500 mg paracetamol, a tablet of 500 mg paracetamol, a tablet of 10 mg bisacodyl, a capsule of 2 mg loperamide, and a combination tablet of 178 mg aluminium hydroxide, 233 mg magnesium hydroxide, and 30 mg simethicone. Tri - media and pharmacists advice were the factors that influenced the respondents’ OTC medicine use. Respondents’ awareness on OTC medicine use needs improvement.
