title: Estimating Consumers' Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Over-The-Counter Analgesic Medication in Greece in the Years of Financial Crisis: The Case of Paracetamol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-prescription over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are widely used by patients to control aches, pain, and fever. One of the most frequently used OTC medications worldwide is paracetamol (acetaminophen). The aim of the present study was to fill the current knowledge gap regarding the beliefs and attitudes of people in Greece associated with the use of paracetamol during the years of financial crisis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study employed a sample of individuals visiting community pharmacies in the second largest city of Greece, Thessaloniki. All participants anonymously answered a questionnaire regarding their beliefs and characteristics of paracetamol consumption. Their answers were then statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The generic paracetamol compound was shown to be more well known than the original. A significant percentage of participants, ranging between 9.9% and 33.7%, falsely believed that certain medications [mainly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)] contained paracetamol. Participants' age, level of education, and gender were shown to be predictive of this false belief. Additionally, 11.1% of participants believed that the maximum allowed daily dose of paracetamol was higher than the correct one. Better educated individuals were less likely to consume alcohol in parallel with paracetamol (odd ratio 0.230, 95% confidence interval 0.058-0.916, P = 0.037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paracetamol is commonly used, both in its original and generic forms. However, a significant number of individuals confuse it with NSAIDs. Age, level of education, and gender are important determinants of the characteristics of paracetamol consumption. It seems that patients prefer to take paracetamol on their own decision during the financial crisis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. ckontogi@med.duth.gr.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kontogiorgis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nena
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleftherios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berberoglou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Kyriaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moschoni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polyzois
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tselemponis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Constantinidis
keywords: Age; Education; Gender; Over-the-counter medication; Pain medicine; Paracetamol; Pharmacoepidemiological study