• David P French and Delyth H James.
• Applied Research Centre in Health and Lifestyle Interventions, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Whitefriars Building, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK. david.french@coventry.ac.uk
• Pharm World Sci. 2008 Jan 1;30(1):79-85.

ObjectiveMild analgesics such as paracetamol and ibuprofen are amongst the most commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. However, little is known about what beliefs people hold about them. The present paper examines: (a) the patterns of mild analgesic usage in a sample of university students, (b) their beliefs about the associated risks and the necessity of taking mild analgesics, and (c) the association between beliefs about analgesics and self-reports of their use.SettingA convenience sample of 333 students studying at a large English University were approached on the University campus. Of these, 291 agreed to participate, yielding an 87% response rate.MethodThis study employed a cross-sectional design, with all participants completing the same questionnaire concerning their use of mild painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, and beliefs about their use.Main Outcome MeasureFour questions asked about their patterns of mild analgesic use in the past month, specifically (a) have they taken analgesics, (b) how often did they take analgesics when they had symptoms, (c) did they take more than a single dose of 1-2 tablets at one time, and (d) did they exceed the maximum dose.ResultsAlmost all of the 291 participants reported symptoms in the past month, with over two thirds treating with mild analgesics, and one sixth exceeding the maximum dose. Only 17% indicated that there were short-term risks of using mild analgesics, although half indicated that there were long-term risks. The risks that were identified generally did not conform with current medical thinking. Perceptions of risks were not generally associated with self-reports of analgesic usage. Rather, respondents who thought analgesics were more necessary were more likely to report taking analgesics, report taking more analgesics, and report exceeding the maximum dose.ConclusionThese results indicate the need for caution in current moves to encourage self-medication. If people are unaware of the risks of drugs such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, then they may only contact health professionals after they experience adverse effects.

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