[Level of knowledge of the compositions of analgesic medication containing aspirin].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the knowledge of the generic designation, use and composition of analgesic medications containing aspirin.


METHODS
A total of 124 interviews were carried out between December 1999 and January 2000, in two neighborhoods of the city of Porto Alegre, southern Brazil. The interview was held with the person who came to answer the door at each of the homes that was drawn. The data collection instruments comprised a set of five different pharmaceutical specialties containing acetylsalicylic acid, and an interview consisting of two open questions concerning the differences and similarities between the products.


RESULTS
Three major knowledge-level groups were characterized on the basis of the information that the interviewees were able to provide. The group that was knowledgeable about the matter comprised 14 individuals (11%). The group with limited knowledge contained 61 people (49)%. Those who had no knowledge of the matter at all formed a group of 49 people (40%).


CONCLUSIONS
Taking the results as a whole, they indicate that most people (about 90% of the sample investigated) are simply not aware of what the active substance is, even in pharmaceutical specialties that they use frequently.
Tierling
Vera L
VL
Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
Paulino
Marco Antonio
MA
Fernandes
Luciana C
LC
Schenkel
Eloir P
EP
Mengue
Sotero S
SS
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001241:Aspirin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D001241:Aspirin