title: [Self-medication with over-the-counter (OTC) preparations in Germany].
abstract: Self-medication with OTC drugs is attracting attention in developed countries. This study examines prevalence and determinants of OTC drug use in a representative sample of German adults aged 18-79 years. A total of 7099 participants of the Drug Utilisation Survey were interviewed regarding drug use including OTC use within the last 7 days prior to the interview. This survey is a part of the representative German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998. Complete information is available from 3393 men and 3594 women: 17.6% of men and 10.8% of women use self-medicated OTC drugs exclusively, whereas 12.3% and 29.3%, respectively, use OTC drugs in addition to prescribed drugs. Besides sex, factors such as age, socioeconomic status and community size determine self-medication with OTC drugs. The most commonly used self-medicated OTC drugs are vitamins, minerals and analgesics. The most commonly reported indication for self-medication with OTC drugs is "prevention". Beside prescribed medication, self-medication with OTC drugs is an important part of drug usage for men and women in Germany. Health consciousness appears to be a significant factor to explain the prevalence OTC drug use.
authors.affiliation: Klinisches Forschungszentrum Frauengesundheit, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beitz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dören
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Knopf
authors.forename: H-U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Melchert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000145:classification* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D015995:Prevalence; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs