Purchasing over-the-counter medications: The influence of age and familiarity

This study examines the influence of age and type of over-the-counter (OTC) medications on decision-making processes leading to the selection of OTC m edications. Manipulating type of OTC medication served as a way of examinin g subjects' familiarity with the decision domain. Thirty-six younger and th irty-six older adults answered questions regarding their OTC medication pur chases, and completed a decision task in which they searched four computeri zed displays of product label information in order to select an antacid, a cold medication, a laxative, and a pain reliever. In general, older adults were slower to review information, more likely to have used OTC medications , and more organized in their searches for information. Specific to pair re lievers, older anti younger adults demonstrated similar information use and time to decision, and older adults specifically tailored the organization of their information searches when choosing pain relievers. Clearly, older adults selectively use product information on OTC medication packages, give n adequate time to process information, Manufacturers' efforts directed at improving information availability should benefit older adults' decision pr ocesses.