ArticlePostgraduate medical journal1997
The use of over-the-counter medication by elderly medical in-patients.
Article in Postgraduate medical journal, 1997. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed.
- A User-Centric Comprehension Assessment of Prescription Drug Package Inserts in China: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2025Article
- Article
- Assessing extreme elderly homebound patients with severe loss of autonomy: Proposal for a practice-based periodic health examination form.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2019Article
- Medicines containing codeine: perspectives of medical professionals in the Republic of Ireland.Irish journal of medical science · 2017Article
- Prevalence and predictors of prior antibacterial use among patients presenting to hospitals in Northern Uganda.BMC pharmacology & toxicology · 2015Article
- Self medication among hospitalized patients in selected secondary health facilities in South Western Nigeria.Pharmacy practice · 2010Article
- Headache in the elderly: primary forms.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2010Review
- Pharmacists' participation in the documentation of medication history in a developing setting: An exploratory assessment with new criteria.Pharmacy practice · 2010Article
- Practical considerations for the treatment of elderly patients with migraine.Drugs & aging · 2006Review
- Switching of prescription drugs to over-the-counter status: is it a good thing for the elderly?Drugs & aging · 2005Review
- The use of over-the-counter drugs among surgical and medical patients.European journal of clinical pharmacology · 2004Article
- Benefits and risks of self medication.Drug safety · 2001Review
- Epidemiology of over-the-counter drug use in community dwelling elderly: United States perspective.Drugs & aging · 2001Review
- Iron deficiency anaemia and aspirin use in old age.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 1999Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications by elderly patients is often not identified. This survey was performed to study the use of OTCs by medical in-patients aged 65 and over. Data on the use of OTC medications before and during hospital admission were collected by questioning patients and case notes were examined for documentation of their use of OTC medications. OTC medications were used by 44 of 138 (32%) patients interviewed. Patients used a total of 70 OTC medications before admission and six OTC medications were being used during hospital admission. There was no documentation of pre-admission and in-hospital OTC medicine use in the clinical notes and patients had little knowledge of the potential harm some products can cause. As more products become available over the counter, doctors should record their use in patients' notes and patients should be encouraged to seek professional advice before purchasing OTC medicines and to read the product information leaflets.
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