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Medicine taking in Southampton: a second look
Author(s) -
M. J. SULLIVAN,
GEORGE C. F.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1996.tb00111.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pharmacist , family medicine , respiratory medicine , adverse effect , alternative medicine , package insert , pharmacy , surgery , pharmacology , pathology
1 A 1 in 200 sample of the Southampton electorate were sent a postal questionnaire in January 1993. Of the 756 adults surveyed, 400 (52.9%) returned completed questionnaires. One hundred and eighty‐eight (47.0%) of the respondents had been prescribed a medicine within the previous month. 2 Compared with a survey 9 years earlier, medicine taking had increased amongst men (44.1% vs 33.7% NS) and drugs acting on the respiratory system were in more widespread use (19 vs 7 patients P < 0.05). 3 Patterns of storage of medicines were almost identical to those found in 1984. However, methods of disposal were significantly different with 34% of the respondents stating that they would return left‐over medicines to the Doctor or Pharmacist compared with 17% in the previous study ( P < 0.01). 4 Of those taking medicines 120 (63.8%) had received a manufacturers’information leaflet. Medicines used to treat disorders of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems were most likely to be accompanied by such a leaflet (74% and 70% respectively). 5 Those who received a leaflet were almost all satisfied by it. However, patient awareness of potential side effects remained poor with only 30% being aware of any which their medicine might cause. 6 Despite improvements in attitudes towards medicine taking over time patients awareness of potential adverse effects remains limited. Further research is necessary in order to determine how best to educate patients on this topic.