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Public Health Study Reveals Insights into Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicine Use in Japan

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted at Osaka University has explored the status of self-medication with over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for colds and coughs in Japan after the COVID-19 pandemic. An online cross-sectional survey involving 1,086 participants was conducted from April 25 to June 26, 2024. The study aimed to understand the factors influencing OTC medicine use, including social background and psychological scales. Key findings revealed that a high proportion of Japanese individuals use OTC medicines for colds and coughs, with most participants demonstrating a strong awareness of proper OTC use.

Key Takeaways:

  • 43.6% of participants reported taking OTC medicines from the onset of colds and coughs, indicating a high level of self-medication.
  • The proportion of seeking healthcare after symptoms lasted one week was 61.7%, suggesting that individuals often delay seeking medical attention.
  • Over 80% of participants reported strictly following the usage instructions, highlighting a strong awareness of proper OTC use.
  • Factors associated with seeking healthcare within one week included age, living area, education level, marital status, insurance type, having an underlying disease, regular doctor visits, and extraversion.
  • The agreeableness trait was found to be a positive factor in adherence to dosage instructions, while having a child or children was a negative factor.
  • The awareness of expiration dates for OTC medicines was significantly influenced by eHEALS, indicating internet literacy for searching health-related information.

Statistics:

  • 43.6% of participants took OTC medicines from the onset of colds and coughs.
  • 61.7% of participants sought healthcare after symptoms lasted one week.
  • Over 80% of participants strictly followed the usage instructions.
  • 25.1% of participants reported using OTC medicines as their second choice for self-medication.
  • 14.5% of participants reported using OTC medicines as their third choice for self-medication.

Sources:

  • "Status and influencing factors of OTC medicine use for self-medication in cold and cough: a cross-sectional survey in Japan." BMC Public Health, 2025, 25(1):1-23. (BMC Public Health - http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com)
  • Yu-Shi Tian, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University
  • Xinhua Mao, Yi Zhou, Kaori Fukuzawa, Kenji Ikeda, Asuka Hatabu, Additional Authors

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