The 'third class' of medications: Sales and purchasing behavior are associated with pharmacist only and pharmacy medicine classifications in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
Nonprescription (over-the-counter) medications in Australia are classified as Pharmacist Only Medicines, Pharmacy Medicines, or unscheduled medications. This report characterizes these medication classifications using key sales and purchasing behavior variables.


METHODS
Descriptive, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
15 pharmacies in southeast Queensland, Australia, with data recorded over 36 hours per pharmacy in mid-August, 2006.


METHODS
Eligible purchasers (n = 3,470 medication purchases) of all nonprescription medications (including nutritional supplements).


METHODS
Researchers documented details of all observed nonprescription medication sales and interviewed all available patients following the transaction.


METHODS
Incidence of product-related consultation, products purchased (brand, dosage form, classification), and purchasing behavior data (including previous purchase, intended use, intended user, and intention to purchase a particular brand).


RESULTS
More restrictive classification of the purchased medication was significantly (P < 0.01) associated with younger purchasers, purchase of a single nonprescription medication, intent to self-use the medication, intent to purchase a particular brand, repeat purchase, brand-switching interventions by pharmacy staff, pharmacy staff influence on first-time purchases, and observed consultation by pharmacists. Legislative compliance issues were identified: Pharmacists consulted in only 54.7% of Pharmacist Only Medicine sales and 13 cases (1.7% of observed sales) occurred in which Pharmacist Only and Pharmacy Medicines had been sourced from publicly accessible areas of the store.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacist Only Medicines received greater levels of professional involvement during their sale than Pharmacy Medicines and unscheduled medications, despite higher levels of product familiarity among patients. To optimize the benefits of this classification system, emphasis on professional guidelines is recommended.
Emmerton
Lynne
L
School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Australia. l.emmerton@pharmacy.uq.edu.au
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D011793:Queensland; D012651:Self Medication; D055815:Young Adult
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs