Consumer preferences for over-the-counter drug retailers in the reregulated Swedish pharmacy market

Håkonsen, Helle; Sundell, Karolina Andersson; Martinsson, Johan; Hedenrud, Tove

doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.01.016

Cited by 19 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…However, a European study performed in eight countries showed that almost half of the respondents had limited (inadequate or problematic) health literacy, and it is likely that this level is similar in Sweden. According to the study on purchase habits of OTC drugs, about 57% of respondents considered availability of educated staff to be important when choosing an OTC retailer . A higher percentage of respondents with the lowest educational level reported availability of educated staff to be important compared with respondents with a higher level of education .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The full questionnaire, which was administered in Swedish, consisted of 115 questions, 15 of which concerned OTC drugs (representing questions 22–36 in the full questionnaire). The questions on purchase habits are described in a previous study …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, a project was initiated to examine purchasing habits and attitudes towards sales and use of OTC drugs in the Swedish adult population following the reregulation of the pharmacy market in 2009. Purchasing habits were analysed separately and have already been reported . The aim of this study was to analyse attitudes towards sales and use of OTC drugs in the Swedish population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Attitudes towards sales and use of over-the-counter drugs in Sweden in a reregulated pharmacy market: a population-based study

Hedenrud

Sundell

Martinsson

et al. 2018

International Journal of Pharmacy Practice

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Increased use due to greater availability, in combination with OTC drug use at first sign of illness illustrates the need for continuous education of the population about self-care with OTC drugs. Increased awareness of the incautious views on OTC drugs in part of the population is important. Swedish policy-makers may use such knowledge in their continuous evaluation of the 2009 pharmacy reform to review the impact of sales of OTC drugs in retail outlets on patient safety and public health. Pharmacy and healthcare staff could be more proactive in asking customers and patients about their use of OTC drugs and offering them advice.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Attitudes towards sales and use of over-the-counter drugs in Sweden in a reregulated pharmacy market: a population-based study

Hedenrud

Sundell

Martinsson

et al. 2018

International Journal of Pharmacy Practice

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“…The Swedish web panel study arrived at different results, where geographic proximity was reported as the overarching factor in the choice of retailer, followed by opening hours and range of available products, while access to counselling by trained staff was rated as the fourth most important reason 19. Our finding that opening hours was a more common motive for families with children could probably be explained by the fact that availability is a major practical issue for the families with children.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…In the Swedish web panel study, 76% of the participants had been to a pharmacy the last time they bought any of the OTC drugs listed in the study. According to their results, more respondents aged below 60 than 60 or above had at least once purchased OTC drugs from a non-pharmacy retailer 19. Pharmacy-monopoly on sales of OTC drugs is still the case in about half of the countries in Europe, such as in Finland, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain and Italy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumer views on safety of over-the-counter drugs, preferred retailers and information sources in Sweden: after re-regulation of the pharmacy market

Westerlund¹,

Barzi²,

Bernsten³

2017

Pharm Pract (Granada)

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Background:The availability of over-the-counter drugs (OTCs) has increased in Sweden since a re-regulation of the pharmacy market in 2009, through which non-pharmacy retailers became permitted to provide certain OTCs.Objective:To examine the adult general public’s views on safety, purchasing and information channels, storage and disposal of OTCs in Sweden, three years after the re-regulation of the pharmacy market.Methods:A questionnaire study in 2012-13 in a stratified, random sample of all inhabitants in Sweden ≥ 18 years old.Results:Totally 8,302 people (42%) answered the questionnaire. Seven percent found OTCs completely harmless regardless of how they are being used, 18% felt they should be used only on health professionals’ recommendation. Differences in how OTCs are perceived were however found with regards to respondents’ country of birth, family type, educational level and income. The pharmacy was still the preferred OTC drug retailer by 83% of the respondents and preferred information source by 80% Reasons for preferred retailers were primarily due to out of habit (45%), counseling provided (35%), the product range (34%) and the confidence in staff (27%). Analgesics are the most common OTCs to have at home (90%). The bathroom cabinet is the primary site for storage (42%) and 16% throw their OTC leftovers in the trash.Conclusions:The study population does not consider OTCs as harmless regardless of how they are used, but on the other hand feels they should not be taken on health professionals’ recommendation only. The pharmacy is still the preferred retailer and information source, and there is room for further improvement in the storage and disposal of OTCs. A return of OTC drug leftovers to the pharmacy should be further encouraged. Due to several limitations, great caution should however be observed when generalizing the results to the adult population of Sweden.

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A population‐based study of risk perceptions of paracetamol use among Swedes—with a special focus on young adults

Håkonsen

Hedenrud

2017

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug

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Consumer preferences for over-the-counter drug retailers in the reregulated Swedish pharmacy market

Cited by 19 publications

References 25 publications

Attitudes towards sales and use of over-the-counter drugs in Sweden in a reregulated pharmacy market: a population-based study

Attitudes towards sales and use of over-the-counter drugs in Sweden in a reregulated pharmacy market: a population-based study

Consumer views on safety of over-the-counter drugs, preferred retailers and information sources in Sweden: after re-regulation of the pharmacy market

A population‐based study of risk perceptions of paracetamol use among Swedes—with a special focus on young adults

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