WHEN TOPICAL HYDROCORTISONE BECAME AN OTC DRUG IN SWEDEN - A STUDY OFTHE USERS AND THEIR INFORMATION-SOURCES

On 1 October 1983 hydrocortisone skin ointments in Sweden were declare d OTC drugs and were made available without prescription. These prepar ations, however, were restricted to pharmacy-only sales. The effect of this reform was studied via telephone interviews with samples of cust omers who had bought hydrocortisone skin ointments, both with and with out prescription. The aim of the study was to analyse the reform from the user's point of view. The interviews were conducted at four points in time: before the reform, during the month after the reform, 9 mont hs and 6 years after the change. The total sales of hydrocortisone oin tments have increased in the period from 1983 to 1989, both in terms o f number of packages and in weight. Most of the background variables o f the OTC users did not change over time. However, the percentage of t he OTC group who had university education was high at the time of the reform but decreased later. It was found that journal articles were th e most frequently used source of information about preparation availab ility at the time of the reform. However, their importance decreased o ver time and pharmacy personnel and nurses had become the most importa nt sources 6 years after the reform. Pharmacy personnel had also becom e the most important source on brand selection and on how to use the p reparation 6 years after the reform. An individual tended to use the s ame source of information about availability, brand selection and how to use the preparation. Those with university education had seen and u sed written material more often than those without such a background.