Community Perception on the Use of Over the Counter (OTC) Medications in Malaysia

Over the counter (OTC) medications use for self medication is progressively increasing, but such medications are also liable for abuse and misuse. The aim of this study is to determine community views on use of OTC medicines. A cross-sectional study design was used to achieve the objectives of the study. Data were collected using a survey administered to 1000 members of the public in 5 different states of Malaysia. Data were coded and entered into a custom designed SPSS© database for statistical analysis. Majority of the participants (60.4%) did not take regular prescription medications. Those without any long term illness, health problem or disability (60.4%) were the ones who took prescription medication regularly. Almost half of the participants (40.8%) reported visiting the community pharmacy less than monthly and 30.3% reported that a pharmacist influenced their choice of medication being purchased. The general public in Malaysia is highly aware that non-prescription medications could be abused. This survey discovered that the general public had a high level of awareness of the abuse potential of OTC medications and that pharmacist’s recommendation influenced their choice. This indicates that in case of inappropriate OTC drug use management, a pharmacist should be given a more significant role to play.