MEDICINE TAKING IN SOUTHAMPTON - A 2ND LOOK

1 A 1 in 200 sample of the Southampton electorate were sent a postal q uestionnaire in January 1993. Of the 756 adults surveyed, 400 (52.9%) returned completed questionnaires. One hundred and eighty-eight (47.0% ) of the respondents had been prescribed a medicine within the previou s month. 2 Compared with a survey 9 years earlier, medicine taking had increased amongst men (44.1% vs 33.7% NS) and drugs acting on the res piratory system were in more widespread use (19 US 7 patients P < 0.05 ). 3 Patterns of storage of medicines were almost identical to those f ound in 1984. However, methods of disposal were significantly differen t with 34% of the respondents stating that they would return left-over medicines to the Doctor or Pharmacist compared with 17% in the previo us study (P < 0.01). 4 Of those taking medicines 120 (63.8%) had recei ved a manufacturers' information leaflet. Medicines used to treat diso rders of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems were most likely t o be accompanied by such a leaflet (74% and 70% respectively). 5 Those who received a leaflet were almost all satisfied by it. However, pati ent awareness of potential side effects remained poor with only 30% be ing aware of any which their medicine might cause. 6 Despite improveme nts in attitudes towards medicine taking over time patients awareness of potential adverse effects remains limited. Further research is nece ssary in order to determine how best to educate patients on this topic .