title: Use of nonprescription medicines by patients with COPD: a survey in Chongqing Municipality, China.
abstract: To study the impact of self-administration of nonprescription medicines (NPMs) on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in Chongqing Municipality, China. A total of 85 patients who had used NPM were assigned to the NPM group. Another 83 patients who had only used prescription medicines (PMs) were assigned to the PM group. Their income, educational levels, health status, public health insurance coverage, the expense of drugs during exacerbation, and the numbers of acute exacerbations during the past year were surveyed, and the approved drugs for COPD were evaluated. The contents of corticosterone in various types of NPMs were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The proportion of use of NPM in hospitalized patients with COPD was 12.96%. The percentage of illiteracy and low income was significantly higher in COPD patients in the NPM group than those in the PM group. The cost of drugs per day and the quality of life in the NPM group were lower than those in the PM group. Further analysis revealed that 15 of 21 NPMs contained corticosteroids. More importantly, medical advice from doctors and nurses appeared to be effective. Some Chinese patients with COPD living in the Chongqing area of China used NPMs that contained corticosteroids. Health education and advisement can effectively limit the use of NPMs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Disease, Research Institute of Surgery, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. cgq1963@163.com
authors.forename: Guoqiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Haidong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hucheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000032:analysis*; D058110:Counterfeit Drugs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D058110:Counterfeit Drugs; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D003345:Corticosterone