The first stop in the treatment continuum for many consumers
The OTC aisles of the retail pharmacy are filled with health conscious people looking to self-treat common conditions. A recent study conducted on behalf of the CHPA (Consumer Healthcare Products Association) from Edelman Berland provides more insight. Their study found that nine out of ten Americans view OTCs as an important part of their family’s healthcare.1 Given that OTCs provide symptomatic relief for an estimated 60 million who would otherwise not seek out treatment, that statistic is not all surprising.2 By all measures, it appears that OTCs are the front lines of defense for treatment and relief, but why is that the case? Well, the good folks over at Nielsen have endeavored to answer this question. What they saw came down to one simple thing, trust. Across the board, people just seem to trust in OTCs.
Their report concluded that two thirds of all consumers preferred an OTC over a prescription and trust the advice given to them by a healthcare professional. So what do health care professionals have to say about OTCs? According to the report 98% of Primary Care Physicians, 97% of Pharmacists, 89% of Pediatricians, and 98% of Nurses either recommended or had no reservations recommending OTC medications to their patients.3 With that kind of professional backing, it is no wonder they are so widely trusted by consumers.
Sources:
1. Unlocking America’s Medicine Cabinet, Edelman Berland, 2013
2. The Value of OTC Medicines to the United States,Booz & Co. study, 2012
3. Understanding Trust in OTC Medicines: Consumer and Healthcare Provider Perspectives, Nielsen, 2013