Consumer expectations of nonprescription medications according to location of sale.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the public has different expectations of nonprescription medications based on location of sale.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, descriptive.


METHODS
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, during the summer of 2003.


METHODS
2,102 randomly selected citizens.


METHODS
Mail survey.


METHODS
Differences in expectations for potency, safety, adverse effects, effectiveness, and package information of products sold in pharmacies versus convenience stores.


RESULTS
The response rate was 57.2%. Most participants (81.2%) were aware that nonprescription medications could be purchased in convenience stores, but far fewer (42.3%) had done so. As one potential resource during purchases, pharmacists were held in reasonably high regard. Expectations with the greatest difference were of a merchandising nature. Respondents expected pharmacies to have a better quality and selection of products and lower prices. For drug-related attributes, differences were minimal but statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Location of sale does not appear to have any practical influence on consumer expectations of the drug-related attributes of nonprescription medications. Buyers of such products expect similar properties to be present regardless of location.
Taylor
Jeffrey G
JG
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. jeff.taylor@usask.ca
Lo
Ya-Ning
YN
Dobson
Roy
R
Suveges
Linda G
LG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010465:Perception; D010595:Pharmacists
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs