Boston Residents Take Control of Their Healthcare

Ongoing education on proper drug use critical

    WASHINGTON, DC—Boston residents are highly knowledgeable about healthcare issues and are taking more responsibility for treating themselves when necessary. According to a recent national survey of Americans’ healthcare practices by the National Consumers League, 57 percent of Bostonians are making more healthcare decisions on their own than five years ago. Further, more than three out of four consumers in Boston are more aware of their state of health than they were five years ago. This increased awareness has lead to some changes in care and treatment.

Use of Over-the-Counter Medication

Healthcare information, once dispensed primarily from physicians, is now available from a variety of sources, including pharmacists, articles in the media, the Internet, and directly from pharmaceutical companies. The wealth of information available has empowered today’s healthcare consumer. More than 60 percent of Bostonians rely on themselves as a first line of treatment when experiencing colds, headaches, heartburn, or other minor health ailments. And, for more than half of these consumers, the preferred treatment is over-the-counter (OTC) medication. This aligns with a national trend that finds OTCs accounting for 60 percent of all medications used in the United States.  

“It’s encouraging that consumers are more interested in their health, but self-treatment should never completely replace professional consultation,” advises Linda Golodner, NCL president. “Consumers need to discuss with their healthcare provider all of the medicines they take, including those available over-the-counter and dietary supplements.” 

Three out of four Americans say their most trusted source of healthcare advice is still their physician and, in Boston, 66 percent of residents would consult their physician when using an OTC. Additionally, 57 percent of consumers would consult their pharmacist and 33 percent would consult a nurse. (Note: Survey respondents were not limited to one selection.)

Label Comprehension

In general, consumers understand the importance of using OTCs responsibly. In fact, 90 percent of Boston residents report that they understand the importance of reading OTC labels. When asked about  actual behavior, 69 percent report  they are reading labels always or nearly every time they take OTCs.

“The goal must be for consumers to read and understand medication labels every time they use an OTC,” says Golodner. “Most OTCs were once prescription drugs and are still serious medications. You have to read the label each time you take an OTC. For example, an OTC could interact with a new prescription, or you may purchase an OTC you’ve taken before but not notice that the dosage is different.”

In addition, the recent research indicates a need to make labels easier for consumers to read, with just 48 percent of Boston consumers finding labels very easy to read and understand. Recently, the FDA has taken progressive steps to require that all over-the-counter labels be easier to understand, in the hopes that consumers will read labels.

Ongoing Education

“Education programs must focus on the potential for interaction and proper dosage in addition to labeling,” states Golodner. “Our data shows that more than 80 percent of Boston consumers say they understand the potential of interaction between OTC and prescription medications. However, we also must ensure that consumers understand the potential interaction between dietary supplements (herbals and vitamins) and OTCs, especially because supplements are not regulated for safety and efficacy by the FDA.”

In general, consumers say they understand responsible dosing. Fifty-seven percent of Bostonians say they never take more than the recommended dose of their OTCs and nearly two-thirds say they do not take them longer than recommended on the label. “For those not following this example, there can be serious health consequences of taking more than the recommended dosage of OTC medications,” says Golodner. “We’ll continue our education efforts until we see even greater numbers of consumers following the advice on the label.”

NCL has developed a page on its Web site to help educate consumers about over-the-counter medications. Consumers can click through a version of the new OTC label, learn questions to ask their healthcare provider about OTCs, and find links to other valuable health information on the Web.

“Consumers are empowered with information and are poised to take a more proactive role in their healthcare,” said Golodner. “Now, we must provide the education needed to increase safe and responsible usage.”

The national survey was fielded by Yankelovich Partners in June 2000 to determine attitudes and perceptions of Americans who use over-the-counter drugs. The random telephone survey sample included 1,010 adults, with a margin of error +/- 3.1 percent. The same random telephone survey was fielded to 250 people in Boston and in 12 additional cities across the nation. The margin of error is +/- 6.2 percent.

           The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to identify, protect, represent, and advance the economic and social interests of consumers and workers. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. 

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