Self-medication of upper gastrointestinal symptoms: a community pharmacy study
- Author
- Els Mehuys (UGent) , Lucas Van Bortel (UGent) , Leen De Bolle (UGent) , Inge Van Tongelen (UGent) , Jean Paul Remon (UGent) and Danny De Looze (UGent)
- Organization
- Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are a common reason for self-treatment with over-the-counter (OTC) medication. However, data are scarce on the typology of GI complaints for which individuals seek self-medication and, more importantly, on the prevalence of alarm symptoms in this population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate: (1) the nature of GI symptoms that people intend to self-medicate, (2) prevalence of alarm symptoms, (3) adherence to referral advice given by the pharmacist, and (4) self-reported efficacy and frequency of use of OTC medication for minor complaints. METHODS: This descriptive study was performed in 63 community pharmacies. Participants (N = 592, aged 18-82 y) completed a questionnaire to assess symptom characteristics and previous medical consulting. Based on this information, the pharmacist referred subjects to a physician or advised self-treatment. Four weeks later, participants were presented a follow-up questionnaire evaluating their adherence to referral advice or efficacy of self-treatment. RESULTS: The most frequently reported GI symptoms were burning retrosternal discomfort (49.2%), acid regurgitation (53.2%), and bothersome postprandial fullness (51.2%). At least one alarm symptom was present in 22.4% of the individuals, with difficulty in swallowing being the most prevalent (15.4%). Although 21% of the customers were referred, only 51.7% of these contacted a physician. Almost all (95.1%) of the remaining customers who were advised self-treatment reported symptom relief with the OTC drug obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Mild GI symptoms will mostly resolve with self-treatment. Yet, the value of pharmacist counseling on OTC treatment should be recognized, as community pharmacists can play an important role in distinguishing symptoms that warrant further medical examination.
- Keywords
- CARE, IMPACT, DISORDERS, HEARTBURN, dyspepsia, antacid, self-treatment, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, nonprescription drugs, GASTROESOPHAGEAL-REFLUX, H-2-RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS, GENERAL-PRACTICE, DYSPEPSIA, PREVALENCE, THE-COUNTER AVAILABILITY
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-686505
- MLA
- Mehuys, Els, et al. “Self-Medication of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Community Pharmacy Study.” ANNALS OF PHARMACOTHERAPY, vol. 43, no. 5, 2009, pp. 890–98, doi:10.1345/aph.1L647.
- APA
- Mehuys, E., Van Bortel, L., De Bolle, L., Van Tongelen, I., Remon, J. P., & De Looze, D. (2009). Self-medication of upper gastrointestinal symptoms: a community pharmacy study. ANNALS OF PHARMACOTHERAPY, 43(5), 890–898. https://doi.org/10.1345/aph.1L647
- Chicago author-date
- Mehuys, Els, Lucas Van Bortel, Leen De Bolle, Inge Van Tongelen, Jean Paul Remon, and Danny De Looze. 2009. “Self-Medication of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Community Pharmacy Study.” ANNALS OF PHARMACOTHERAPY 43 (5): 890–98. https://doi.org/10.1345/aph.1L647.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Mehuys, Els, Lucas Van Bortel, Leen De Bolle, Inge Van Tongelen, Jean Paul Remon, and Danny De Looze. 2009. “Self-Medication of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Community Pharmacy Study.” ANNALS OF PHARMACOTHERAPY 43 (5): 890–898. doi:10.1345/aph.1L647.
- Vancouver
- 1.Mehuys E, Van Bortel L, De Bolle L, Van Tongelen I, Remon JP, De Looze D. Self-medication of upper gastrointestinal symptoms: a community pharmacy study. ANNALS OF PHARMACOTHERAPY. 2009;43(5):890–8.
- IEEE
- [1]E. Mehuys, L. Van Bortel, L. De Bolle, I. Van Tongelen, J. P. Remon, and D. De Looze, “Self-medication of upper gastrointestinal symptoms: a community pharmacy study,” ANNALS OF PHARMACOTHERAPY, vol. 43, no. 5, pp. 890–898, 2009.
@article{686505, abstract = {{BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are a common reason for self-treatment with over-the-counter (OTC) medication. However, data are scarce on the typology of GI complaints for which individuals seek self-medication and, more importantly, on the prevalence of alarm symptoms in this population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate: (1) the nature of GI symptoms that people intend to self-medicate, (2) prevalence of alarm symptoms, (3) adherence to referral advice given by the pharmacist, and (4) self-reported efficacy and frequency of use of OTC medication for minor complaints. METHODS: This descriptive study was performed in 63 community pharmacies. Participants (N = 592, aged 18-82 y) completed a questionnaire to assess symptom characteristics and previous medical consulting. Based on this information, the pharmacist referred subjects to a physician or advised self-treatment. Four weeks later, participants were presented a follow-up questionnaire evaluating their adherence to referral advice or efficacy of self-treatment. RESULTS: The most frequently reported GI symptoms were burning retrosternal discomfort (49.2%), acid regurgitation (53.2%), and bothersome postprandial fullness (51.2%). At least one alarm symptom was present in 22.4% of the individuals, with difficulty in swallowing being the most prevalent (15.4%). Although 21% of the customers were referred, only 51.7% of these contacted a physician. Almost all (95.1%) of the remaining customers who were advised self-treatment reported symptom relief with the OTC drug obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Mild GI symptoms will mostly resolve with self-treatment. Yet, the value of pharmacist counseling on OTC treatment should be recognized, as community pharmacists can play an important role in distinguishing symptoms that warrant further medical examination.}}, author = {{Mehuys, Els and Van Bortel, Lucas and De Bolle, Leen and Van Tongelen, Inge and Remon, Jean Paul and De Looze, Danny}}, issn = {{1060-0280}}, journal = {{ANNALS OF PHARMACOTHERAPY}}, keywords = {{CARE,IMPACT,DISORDERS,HEARTBURN,dyspepsia,antacid,self-treatment,upper gastrointestinal symptoms,nonprescription drugs,GASTROESOPHAGEAL-REFLUX,H-2-RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS,GENERAL-PRACTICE,DYSPEPSIA,PREVALENCE,THE-COUNTER AVAILABILITY}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{5}}, pages = {{890--898}}, title = {{Self-medication of upper gastrointestinal symptoms: a community pharmacy study}}, url = {{http://doi.org/10.1345/aph.1L647}}, volume = {{43}}, year = {{2009}}, }
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