Public opinion study on the role of advertising in choice of non-prescription drugs for self-treatment

Abstract

An assessment of the opinion of a certain cohort of the population on the role of drug advertising in the choice of non-prescription drugs for self-treatment was conducted. According to the questionnaire survey, it has been established that advertising affects the choice of drug for self-treatment 26.0% of the polled. Despite the fact that the majority of respondents indicate that there is no influence of drug advertising, 62.8% of them buy self-medication drug sabout which they learned from advertising. Thus, our scientific hypothesis about the presence of the direct influence of drug advertising on the commitment of patients to pharmacotherapy is confirmed. The majority of respondents (90.0%) do not consider advertising of drugs to be effective and safe, and 61.0% say that drug advertising contains contradictory and incomprehensible information. Almost all respondents (88.0%) are convinced that drug advertising is not always objective and fair. At the same time, according to 50.0% of respondents, the volume of drug advertising in Ukraine should be reduced, 22.0% of respondents believe that advertising of drugs should be prohibited.