Availability of over-the-counter drugs for arthritis in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Seventy pharmacies located in Sao Paulo were randomly selected and visited. Seven researchers posed as ordinary clients presenting with a standardized complaint of symptoms according to a scenario previously defined. The client asked for medicines to relieve his/her pain or discomfort. After the seller's suggestion the client asked for 2 drugs randomly selected from a drug list containing 30 trademarked drugs commonly prescribed to arthritis patients. These drugs should be available only on prescription. In only 12.8% of the pharmacies did the seller initially suggest the client see a physician. The sellers "prescribed' non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), vitamins, analgesics (AN) and corticosteroids (CO) in respectively 42.8, 20.0, 14.3 and 5.7% of the visits. From the drug list, the client secured 67.7% of the NSAID, 65.0% of the CO and 20.0% of the sedatives without presenting a prescription. Pharmacy sellers usually comply with the clients demands. Future studies should aim at the evaluation of interventions to reduce the availability of the over-the-counter drugs for arthritis.
Ferraz
M B
MB
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Pereira
R B
RB
Paiva
J G
JG
Atra
E
E
Dos Santos
J Q
JQ
D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001168:Arthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003906:Developing Countries; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013256:Steroids; D014504:Urban Health
D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D013256:Steroids