NCL OTC Pain Medications Survey Questionnaire--Jan. 2003

 

Total

%

Q305:  Overall, how would you rate your current health?

 

Excellent

23

Very good

30

Good

32

Fair

11

Poor

4

Not sure/Decline to answer

-

 

 

Summary of Yes

 

Total

%

Q308:  What types of pain have you regularly suffered from in the past three months?

 

Arthritis/Joint Pain

40

Back Pain

40

Muscular Ache

38

Headache or Migraine Pain

36

Joint Pain

33

Morning Stiffness

29

Arthritis

26

Sports or Exercise Related Pain

20

Bursitis, Tendonitis, Sprains, or Strains

14

Menstrual Pain*

12

Dental Pain

11

Any other pain conditions

7

 

 

 

Total

%

Q310:  In the past year, have you used an over-the-counter medicine for pain, such as aspirin, Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Aleve, Advil, Motrin, or some other pain medication, or not? 

 

Yes, currently use               

57

Yes, have used in past year

27

No, have not used in past year

16

Not sure/Decline to answer

-

 *Asked of females only

   

 

Base:  Currently use or have used OTC pain medications in the past year (n=3547)

Multiple responses allowed

 

Total

%

Q315:  What over-the-counter pain medications (do/did) you use?

 

Tylenol

45

Ibuprofen

25

Advil

22

Aspirin

18

Aleve

15

Motrin

8

Excedrin

4

Bayer

2

Acetaminophen

1

Naproxen

1

Ascriptin

1

Ecotrin

*

Ketoprofen

*

Nuprin

*

Orudis

*

Store Brand

1

Other

3

   

 

Base:  Currently use or have used OTC pain medications in the past year (n=3547)

 

 

Total

%

Q318:  On average, how often (do/did) you take over-the-counter pain medications to relieve your pain?  Would you say daily, several times a week, several times a month, or less often than that? 

 

Daily

15

Several times a week

14

Several times a month

27

Less often than that

43

Not sure/Decline to answer

1

 

 

Base:  Takes OTC medications daily (n=565)

 

Total

%

Q319:  On a typical day, how many times a day will you take an over-the-counter pain medication?

 

1

44

2

33

3-4

17

5 or more

5

Not sure/Decline to answer

1

   

 

Base:  Takes OTC medications less than daily (n=2982)

 

 

Total

%

Q320:  Thinking about the past month, that is, the last 30 days, how many times have you taken an over-the-counter pain medication?

 

Zero

22

1

18

2

18

3-4

17

5 or more

24

Not sure/Decline to answer

1

 

 

 

Base:  Currently use or have used OTC pain medications in the past year (n=3547)

 

 

Total

%

Q325:  When you take an over-the-counter pain reliever, what do you most often take? 

 

Tylenol

32

Ibuprofen

18

Advil

16

Aspirin

12

Aleve

9

Motrin

4

Excedrin

2

Bayer

1

Acetaminophen

1

Ascriptin

*

Ecotrin

*

Naproxen

*

Orudis

*

Nuprin

-

Ketoprofen

-

Store Brand

1

Other

2

 

 

Base:  Currently use or have used OTC pain medications in the past year (n=3547)

Summary of Yes

 

Total

%

Q330:  Have you ever taken an over-the-counter pain medication when you otherwise could have taken a prescription medication for any of the following reasons? 

 

Because over-the-counter pain medications are easy to purchase

61

Because you feel that over-the-counter pain medication works just as well as prescription or you don’t need prescription strength

47

Because over-the counter pain medications cost less                        

44

Because you don’t like going to the doctor

36

Because you feel there is less risk of possible side effects with over-the-counter drugs

30

Because your health plan has too high a deductible or won’t pay for the prescription

17

 

Base:  Currently use or have used OTC pain medications in the past year (n=3547)

Multiple responses allowed

 

Total

%

Q335:  Now thinking about when you take a non-prescription pain reliever for the first time, what information do you read on the package?

 

Dosage level

30

Directions for usage

21

Possible side effects of usage

16

Active ingredients

11

Warnings about usage with other non-prescriptions medicine

8

Symptoms it is used for

6

Brand name

3

Effects of interaction with alcohol

3

Price

1

All of it/Everything

16

Don’t read anything on label

12

Not sure/Decline to answer

4

   

Base:  Currently use or have used OTC pain medications in the past year (n=3547)

Summary of Yes

 

Total

%

Q340:  There may be reasons that people take more than the recommended dose of pain reliever.  Have you ever taken:

 

The next dose sooner than directed on the label

34

More pills at a single time than the label recommended

29

More than the number of doses per day as directed on the label

19

   

Base:  Taken more than the recommended dose (n=1562)

Multiple responses allowed

 

Total

%

Q345:  Thinking about the most recent time you took more than the recommended dose, why did you take more?  Was it because you:

 

Believed it would bring relief more quickly

67

Had severe symptoms

67

Did not get any better taking the recommended dose

57

Had taken the prescription version of the medicine previously

24

Doctor or Nurse told me to

19

Not sure/Decline to answer

7

 

OTC Medication and Consumer Knowledge

 

Summary of Yes

 

Total

%

Q405:  Have you ever discussed any of the following things about over-the-counter pain medications with a health professional, such as your doctor or pharmacist? 

 

Interactions with other over-the-counter or prescription medications

29

Proper length of time to take over-the-counter pain medications or risks of taking continuously

23

Risk of liver or kidney damage

19

Risk of stomach bleeding or ulcers

18

Interactions with dietary supplements

12

 

 

Base:  Discussed with Doctor (n=1017)

 

 

Total

%

Q406A:  Who initiated your conversation about this?  Was it you, or your health professional? -- Proper length of time to take over-the-counter pain medications or risks of taking continuously

 

Respondent initiated

56

Health professional initiated                            

40

Not sure/Decline to answer

4

   

 

Base:  Discussed with Doctor (n=1298)

 

 

Total

%

Q406B:  Who initiated your conversation about this?  Was it you, or your health professional? -- Interactions with other over-the-counter or prescription medications

 

Respondent initiated

65

Health professional initiated                            

32

Not sure/Decline to answer

3

   

 

Base:  Discussed with Doctor (n=550)

 

 

Total

%

Q406C:  Who initiated your conversation about this?  Was it you, or your health professional? -- Interactions with dietary supplements

 

Respondent initiated

65

Health professional initiated                            

34

Not sure/Decline to answer

1

 

 

Base:  Discussed with Doctor (n=860)

 

 

Total

%

Q406D:  Who initiated your conversation about this?  Was it you, or your health professional? -- Risk of liver or kidney damage

 

Respondent initiated

55

Health professional initiated                            

43

Not sure/Decline to answer

2

   

 

Base:  Discussed with Doctor (n=827)

 

 

Total

%

Q406E:  Who initiated your conversation about this?  Was it you, or your health professional? -- Risk of stomach bleeding or ulcers

 

Respondent initiated

55

Health professional initiated                            

41

Not sure/Decline to answer

4

 

Base:  Currently use or have used OTC pain medications in the past year (n=3547)

 

Total

%

Q412:  Has your doctor or pharmacist ever directed you to an over-the-counter pain medication because your insurance policy did not cover certain prescription medications?

 

Yes

9

No

91

Not sure/Decline to answer

-

 

 

 

Total

%

Q415:  How concerned are you about any potential side effects of over-the-counter pain medication? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not concerned at all?

 

Very concerned

22

Somewhat concerned

27

Not too concerned

25

Not concerned at all

25

Not sure/Decline to answer

1

 

Base:  Very/somewhat concerned about side effects (n=2125)

Unaided awareness

 

 

Total

%

Q417:  What types of side effects are you concerned about?

 

Liver damage

21

Kidney problems

12

Stomach problems

11

Dizziness

9

Drowsiness

7

Nausea

6

Problems with other medications

6

Ulcer

5

Gastrointestinal bleeding

4

High blood pressure

4

Fear of addiction

3

Heartburn

2

Allergies or sensitivities

2

Diarrhea

2

Vomiting

2

Blurred vision

1

Constipation

1

Hives/rashes/itching

1

Shakes/tremors

1

Other

9

Any/all side effects

21

Not sure/Decline to answer

12


 

Strongly agree

%

Somewhat agree

%

Q420:  Regarding over-the-counter pain medications only, please tell me whether you agree strongly, agree, disagree or disagree strongly with each of the following statements. 

 

 

I always consult my doctor before taking an over-the-counter pain medicine for longer than 10 days.

35

20

As long as I take the recommended dose, I don’t think there are any serious risks of stomach, kidney, or liver damage associated with over-the-counter pain medicines.

18

33

Over-the-counter pain medications are safer than prescription pain medications.

10

26

I don’t usually read the directions on the over-the-counter pain medication package when I take medication because I know how much to take.

18

17

Even though there are risks of stomach, kidney, and liver damage with taking some over-the-counter pain medications, I take them because it is more important to control the pain.

15

30

If taken according to the directions, it’s okay to take an over-the-counter pain reliever while taking an over-the-counter product for cold or sinus condition.

14

31

As long as I take over-the-counter pain medications according to label instructions, it is safe to also take prescription medications.

12

22

I don’t worry much about how long or how often I take the over-the-counter pain medicine as long as it manages my pain.

13

21

As long as I take over-the-counter pain medications according to label instructions, it is safe to also take dietary supplements.

11

23

Taking more than the recommended dose of over the counter medicine will make the pain go away faster.

8

19

It’s okay to drink some alcohol with over-the-counter pain relievers, as long as I only take the recommended amount of pain reliever.

6

13


                                                                                                                                                                    

 

Very

concerned
%

Somewhat

concerned
%

Q425:  Next I’m going to read a few statements.  Please tell me how concerned each of them make you feel about the risks associated with over-the-counter pain medicines such as aspirin, Ibuprofen, or Aleve?

 

 

Risk of stomach bleeding increases by as much as three times with the use of some over-the-counter pain relievers.

41

36

Serious side effects, such as stomach bleeding, are associated with some over-the-counter pain relievers and can occur without warning.

41

36

Every year in the United States there are about 16,500 deaths and 107,000 hospitalizations for serious side effects, such as bleeding ulcers, associated with some pain medicines.

43

33

The risk of serious side effects, such as stomach bleeding, increases as the daily dose of certain over- the-counter pain medicines increases.

39

36

 

OTC Medication and Consumer Lifestyle

 

 

 

Total

%

Q505:  During the past month, on approximately how many days did you drink 3 or more alcoholic beverages?

 

Zero

 

1

 

2

9

3-4

8

5 or more

12

Not sure/Decline to answer

1

               

Base:  Currently use or have used OTC pain medications in the past year (n=3547)

 

Total

%

Q510:  Have you ever consumed alcohol the same day you are taking over-the-counter pain medications?

 

Yes, have

32

No, have not

67

Not sure/Decline to answer

1

 

Base:  Currently use or have used OTC pain medications in the past year (n=3547)

 

Total

%

Q525:  Have you ever taken a cold or flu medication at the same time as an over-the-counter pain medication?

 

Yes, have

31

No, have not

67

Not sure/Decline to answer

2

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