Stress and use of over-the-counter analgesics: prevalence and association among Danish 25 to 44-year-olds from 1994 to 2005

Koushede, Vibeke; Ekholm, Ola; Andersen, Anette; Hansen, Ebba Holme

doi:10.1007/s00038-010-0188-6

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(33 reference statements)

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“…27 Stress levels are known to influence the use of analgesics. 28,29 This was not the case in this study; stress levels had no association with the use of analgesics although majority of respondents indicated that they were stressed. Probably in anticipation of pain and to offset any form of body pain, majority of respondents took analgesics before the commencement of the day's work.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Factors influencing use of analgesics among construction workers in the Ga-East municipality of the Greater Accra region, Ghana

Badzi

Ackumey

2018

gmj

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BACKGROUND: Analgesics also known as painkillers are widely used for pain relief. There are severe health implications associated with excessive use of analgesics. This paper examines factors influencing the use of analgesics among construction workers in the Ga-East Municipality (GEM) of the Greater Accra region of Ghana.METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 206 construction workers randomly sampled from 7 construction sites in the GEM. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit responses on knowledge of analgesics, types of analgesics used and factors influencing the use of analgesics. Chi-square test analysis was used to examine factors influencing analgesic use.RESULTS: The majority of workers were aged between 15 to 44 years (89.8%) and 51.9 percent of respondents had completed Junior high school. Many respondents (68.0%) used Brand 1 a locally manufactured analgesic with paracetamol, aspirin and caffeine as the active ingredients and 31.6 percent of respondents had no knowledge of possible side effects of continuous use of analgesics. Chi square analysis showed that age was significantly associated with use of analgesics (p<0.01). Knowledge of the types of analgesics, dosage and side effects did notinfluence use (p>0.05). Television and radio advertisements influenced use of analgesics (p<0.01).CONCLUSION: Knowledge on analgesic use and knowledge of probable serious side effects was inadequate. Pharmacists and chemists involvement in education of clients of the side effects of analgesics is highly recommended to minimise misuse. The Food and Drugs Authority should regulate the proliferation of advertisements for analgesics in the media.Funding: None declaredKeywords: analgesics, NSAIDs, construction workers, over-the-counter drugs, OTC

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Factors influencing use of analgesics among construction workers in the Ga-East municipality of the Greater Accra region, Ghana

Badzi

Ackumey

2018

gmj

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“…For university students, elevated psychological distress (e.g., emotional suffering, stress, anxiety, depressed mood) has been reported, with prevalence rates up to 80% 1 . In order to cope with stress, a growing number of people resort to medication such as antidepressants 2 or benzodiazepines 3 as well as over-the-counter medications 4 , 5 , despite a lack of evidence for their effectiveness for stress reduction and their potential associated risks (e.g., abuse and unwanted side effects).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of pharmaceutical form and simulated side effects in an open-label-placebo RCT for improving psychological distress in highly stressed students

Winkler¹,

Hahn²,

Hermann³

2023

Sci Rep

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Open-label placebo (OLP) may be utilized to reduce psychological distress. Yet, potential contextual effects have not been explored. We investigated the impact of pharmaceutical form and the simulation of side effects in a parallel group RCT (DRKS00030987). A sample of 177 highly stressed university students at risk of depression were randomly assigned by computer generated tables to a 1-week intervention with active or passive OLP nasal spray or passive OLP capsule or a no-treatment control group. After the intervention, groups differed significantly in depressive symptoms but not regarding other outcomes of psychological distress (stress, anxiety, sleep quality, somatization), well-being or treatment expectation. OLP groups benefitted significantly more compared to the no-treatment control group (d = .40), OLP nasal spray groups significantly more than the OLP capsule group (d = .40) and the active OLP group significantly more than the passive OLP groups (d = .42). Interestingly, before intervention, most participants, regardless of group assignment, believed that the OLP capsule would be most beneficial. The effectiveness of OLP treatments seems to be highly influenced by the symptom focus conveyed by the OLP rationale. Moreover, pharmaceutical form and simulation of side effects may modulate efficacy, while explicit treatment expectation seems to play a minor role.

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“…Anxiety and depression show a strong relation to chronic pain and may contribute to the development and, more surely, to the preservation of pain [ 11 ]. OTCAs may also be a preferred way for some adolescents to deal with perceived health problems [ 12 ], and some adolescents use OTCAs to treat stress [ 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High use of over-the-counter analgesic; possible warnings of reduced quality of life in adolescents - a qualitative study

et al. 2016

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BackgroundUse of over-the-counter analgesics among adolescents has increased markedly. High consumption of over-the-counter analgesics among adolescents is associated with frequent pain, lower self-esteem, reduced sleep, lower educational ambition, binge drinking, higher caffeine consumption, and part-time employment. Knowledge about life experiences of adolescents who frequently use over-the-counter analgesics may be useful to prevent health problems. The purpose of the study was to increase knowledge about adolescents who suffer from frequent pain and have a high consumption of over-the-counter analgesics.MethodsA qualitative study, employing one-on-one, in-depth interviews using a thematic interview guide. Data were collected in Norway in 2013–2014. Three boys and sixteen girls; aged 14–16 years, who continuously consumed over-the-counter analgesics were recruited from ten high schools in urban and suburban districts. Candidate participants were excluded if they were medically diagnosed with an acute or chronic illness, requiring extended use of over-the-counter analgesics within the last year. The interviews were taped, transcribed and analysed as text according to Kvale’s three contexts of interpretation: self-understanding, common sense and theory.ResultsAll participants disclosed unresolved physical and psychosocial distress characterized as pain. Frequent pain from various body parts made everyday life challenging. Methods of pain self-appraisal and over-the-counter analgesics use often mimicked maternal patterns. Participants reported being raised under unpredictable circumstances that contributed to long lasting family conflicts and peer-group problems. Participants wanted to feel appreciated and to be socially and academically successful. However, pain reduced their ability to manage everyday life, hampered experienced possibilities for success, and made social settings difficult.ConclusionsChildhood experiences influence how adolescents experience pain and use over-the-counter analgesics. Coping with difficult situations or attempting to mask symptoms with over-the-counter analgesics can perpetuate and amplify underlying problems. High consumption of over-the-counter analgesics and frequent pain may be warning signs of adolescents with possible health threatening conditions and reduced quality of life. These adolescent might be in need of support from school nurses and General Practitioners. This study identifies new perspectives that may lead to novel approaches to identify, guide, and support adolescents with frequent pain and high consumption of over-the-counter analgesics.

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Stress and use of over-the-counter analgesics: prevalence and association among Danish 25 to 44-year-olds from 1994 to 2005

Abstract: The findings indicate that there may be an increasing overuse of OTCA in treating stress among 25 to 44-year-old men and women.

Cited by 7 publications

References 28 publications

Factors influencing use of analgesics among construction workers in the Ga-East municipality of the Greater Accra region, Ghana

Factors influencing use of analgesics among construction workers in the Ga-East municipality of the Greater Accra region, Ghana

The impact of pharmaceutical form and simulated side effects in an open-label-placebo RCT for improving psychological distress in highly stressed students

High use of over-the-counter analgesic; possible warnings of reduced quality of life in adolescents - a qualitative study

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