Over-the-counter analgesics: A survey of the public’s knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding current labeling practices

A wide variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications are currently available to the general public without a prescription. Among the most popular of these are medicines termedanalgesics that have pain-relieving effects. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the significant health risks associated with their use. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether people want to be informed of these risks and whether such knowledge would influence self-reported precautionary behavior. The results showed that 92% of the 330 people surveyed wanted to be informed of the risks of OTC analgesics and nearly 95% percent agreed that this information should appear on the product label or in the materials that accompany these products. When asked about the likely actions they would take if provided with organ-specific risk information, a large majority of the respondents indicated they would take one or more precautionary behaviors to reduce the risks (e.g., take smaller dosages). A majority of respondents admitted having placed themselves at risk by taking more than the recommended dose of an OTC analgesic at one time. These results have implications for improving the quality and effectiveness of risk communications.