Changes in pharmacist's recommendations of over-the-counter treatments for the common cold during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Autor:	Kopa-Stojak PN; Department of Immunopathology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland., Pietrusiewicz M; Department of Immunopathology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland., Pawliczak R; Department of Immunopathology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: rafal.pawliczak@csk.umed.lodz.pl.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Journal of infection and public health [J Infect Public Health] 2024 May; Vol. 17 (5), pp. 767-773. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Mar 05.
DOI:	10.1016/j.jiph.2024.03.001
Abstrakt:	Background: The common cold is one of the most frequently occurring illnesses worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine which OTC anti-common cold medications were most often recommended by pharmacists and if the COVID-19 pandemic affected such recommendations. Methods: Non-interventional, observational research trial using a self-developed questionnaire to collect data on pharmacists' recommendations for anti-common cold OTC treatment. The data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic (December 2021-February 2022) in four large community network pharmacies in Lodz (Poland) and then compared with an analogue period of time before the pandemic (December 2019-February 2020). Results: During COVID-19 pandemic there was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, metamizole magnesium, inosines, alpha-mimetics, mucolytics, homeopathics, and sore throat products and an increase in other tablets/capsules and add-on product recommendations. There was a significant relationship (p < 0.05, OR > 1) between the recommended frequency of paracetamol, inosines, sore throat products (each symptom), metamizole magnesium (headache, fever), acetylsalicylic acid (headache, fever, fatigue), NSAIDs, alpha-mimetics (headache, rhinorrhea), pseudoephedrine (rhinorrhea), homeopathics (headache), herbal products (fatigue), antihistamines (rhinorrhea, cough), and mucolytics (headache, fever, cough). Conclusions: Favorable prices (before COVID-19 pandemic) and reports on common NSAIDs side effects (beginning of the pandemic) led to high sale of paracetamol. Increased awareness of clinical effectiveness of some medications or their reduced availability influenced their limited recommendations. Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests This work was supported by the Medical University of Lodz under Grant 503/0-149-03/503-01-001-19-00. (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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