Strong Pharmacist Engagement Helps Patients Effectively Use OTC Products

Education and strong pharmacist engagement can help patients use OTC products safely. In a study published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, investigators said that targeted interventions are needed to help promote safe and responsible self-care, especially where knowledge gaps exist.¹

In the study, investigators aimed to assess the prevalence, determinants, and safety awareness of self-medication among patients living in the United Arab Emirates. The investigators also evaluated the effectiveness of educational interventions for improving knowledge and attitudes toward OTC medication use. As such, they examined pharmacist engagement and public health strategies for safer self-care practices.¹

“Self-medication practices are shaped by a complex interplay of sociodemographic characteristics, health care accessibility, cultural beliefs, and health literacy,” the study authors said. “Individuals with limited medication knowledge or low health literacy are more vulnerable to misuse, drug interactions, and adverse effects, while those with higher education levels tend to make more informed medication choices.”

What Were the Findings?

This was a quantitative cross-sectional study, which included a questionnaire to collect baseline data on self-medication, an introduction to an educational brochure, and participant feedback after the intervention. Investigators used the 3 phases to assess the usefulness of the educational material as well as the participants’ perspectives on the role of the pharmacists in OTC medication.¹

The majority of participants were female at 70.3% and in the 18-to-29-year age range at 41%. Most (62.3%) had a bachelor’s degree, and only 12.5% studied health sciences. Approximately 58% of patients were able to define self-medication as medication without professional supervision. As for concerns, investigators identified the 2 highest as risk of using the wrong medication (39.8%) and misdiagnosis (23%). Further, approximately half of patients partially understood the medication leaflets.¹

Approximately 79.8% of patients who bought a drug from a pharmacy did not consult with the pharmacist. Further, awareness of drug-drug and food-drug interactions was limited, with over half being unaware of them. However, investigators also mentioned that 90.8% of patients consulted with a pharmacist before taking medication, and 57% reported adverse effects to the pharmacist. Additionally, 52.2% consulted a pharmacist for medication dosage, but at some point, 35% had altered their dosage. After the intervention, 88.3% said they had an improved understanding of self-medication after the awareness material, and 79% expressed interest in further education on other health topics from health care professionals.¹

The Pharmacist’s Role in OTC Medication

Authors of a study published in Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy found that self-care and self-medication are often ways to better support patients in the US as health care costs continue to increase. Pharmacists have many opportunities to continue to expand their role to better assist patients on their health care journeys.²

Self-care encompasses OTC medication, as it can include pharmacists in disease prevention, evaluation, and maintenance of current health conditions. Current accreditation standards require student pharmacists to develop knowledge related to a broader definition of self-care. In another study published in the Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, investigators used an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) self-medication training program for pharmacy students.^2,3

They found that students who completed the intervention program had greater increases in counseling skills and self-confidence compared with the control group. However, both groups had similar increases in communication skills.³

“As pharmacists play an important role to ensure the safe, appropriate, and effective application of self-medication, and literature indicates room for improvement of pharmacists’ self-medication counseling skills, we suggest that an OSCE-based training approach has the potential to contribute to the future pharmacists’ education,” the authors of the study concluded.³

READ MORE: OTC Resource Center

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REFERENCES

1. AlKhalidi DK, Abbas MO, Hamad AS, et al. Self-medication practices in the UAE: prevalence, determinants, public awareness, and the impact of an educational intervention on safe medication use. J Pharm Policy Pract. 2025;19(1):2600782. Published 2025 Dec 24. doi:10.1080/20523211.2025.2600782

2. Straw A, Mills J, Winters R, Van de Roovaart H, Chen AMH. Community pharmacies and the empowerment of self-care in the United States. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2023;10:100266. Published 2023 Apr 14. doi:10.1016/j.rcsop.2023.100266

3. Farahani I, Farahani S, Deters MA, Schwender H, Laeer S. Training Pharmacy Students in Self-Medication Counseling Using an Objective Structured Clinical Examination-Based Approach. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2021;8:23821205211016484. Published 2021 May 31. doi:10.1177/23821205211016484