title: Over-the-counter medicine and dietary supplement consumption among academic youth in Poland.
abstract: Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and dietary supplements are increasingly popular in Poland, potentially improving but also potentially posing a threat to public health. The study goal is to characterize and assess behaviors related to use of OTC medicines and dietary supplements among Polish university students. A questionnaire-based survey was performed with students divided into groups (gender, subjects studied, period of studies). The majority of students declared using the products, significantly more females and younger students in their early years. Females tended to be more attentive to product information. Students with a background in biological or medical sciences were also more attentive and less influenced by advertising. The authors present that the differences between the defined groups of students should be utilized in tailored educational activities, aiming to rationalize high consumption of OTC medicines and dietary supplements. Targeting other, especially low-socioeconomic and less-educated, groups should follow.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Drug Management, Faculty of Health Sciences , Jagiellonian University Medical College , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bochenek
authors.affiliation: b Division of Clinical Pharmacology , Karolinska Institute , Stockholm , Sweden.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Godman
authors.affiliation: a Department of Drug Management, Faculty of Health Sciences , Jagiellonian University Medical College , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lipowska
authors.affiliation: a Department of Drug Management, Faculty of Health Sciences , Jagiellonian University Medical College , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mikrut
authors.affiliation: a Department of Drug Management, Faculty of Health Sciences , Jagiellonian University Medical College , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zuziak
authors.affiliation: a Department of Drug Management, Faculty of Health Sciences , Jagiellonian University Medical College , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedzisz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Drug Management, Faculty of Health Sciences , Jagiellonian University Medical College , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: c Department of Neurobiology , Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilc
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D000367:Age Factors; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011044:Poland; D011634:Public Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs
keywords: OTC medicine; college student; dietary supplement; gender differences; self-treatment; survey