Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviour of the Population of the Czech Republic to Self-Medication I: Knowledge of and Information on Drugs

Overview

A large survey carried out from June to September 2002 in the territory of the Czech Republic found and analyzed the knowledge of the population of the Czech Republic in relation to self-medication and o-t-c drugs and revealed the main problematic areas from the viewpoint of the public. The survey was particularly focused on the comprehensibility of information in drug information sheets, potential habit-formation, possible misuse and overdose of o-t-c drugs, safety of natural remedies, and possible interactions between o-t-c and prescription drugs. It is obvious that people continue to be afraid of possible undesirable effects of drugs. More than one third of responders consider o-t-c drugs safe from the viewpoint of habit-formation, more than 75 % of responders are aware of a risk of misuse and overdose, 79 % of responders view natural drugs as safer than the synthetic ones, and 73 % of responders are completely sure that there exist possible interactions between drugs.

Key words:
self-medication – over-the-counter drugs – drug information sheet – information