スイッチOTC医薬品に対する一般生活者の意識調査

抄録

To clarify consumer views and needs on Rx-to-OTC switches, our survey was conducted with 200 consumers at a gym in Tokyo, Japan.
Among the respondents, the degree of recognition of Rx-to-OTC switches was 56.5%. A total of 74% of the respondents replied that they wanted to use Rx-to-OTC switches when they had been slightly ill and/or injured. The ratio of replies that “I want to use Rx-to-OTC switches” was significantly high in the group who were familiar with Rx-to-OTC switches than the group who were not. To familiarize the public with Rx-to-OTC switches, it has been suggested that education activities will be necessary to raise the public's recognition of Rx-to-OTC switches.
A total of 32 and 25.3% percent of men hoped that the drugs that they took for hyperlipidemia and hyperpiesia would be switched from prescription drugs to OTC types. The price of the Rx-to-OTC switches the respondents were hoping for was approximately 65% of the fee they pay for a prescription drug to be filled at a pharmacy.
The main reason prescription drugs are not switched to OTC types is safety. Therefore, to satisfy the needs of 74.0% of the respondents who replied that they wanted to use Rx-to-OTC switches, the establishment of a support system to secure the safety and improve the knowledge of pharmacists and registered salesclerks is required.