The use of non-prescription medicines by general practitioner attendees

Against a background of increasing availability and use of non-prescription medicines, this study set out to explore: use of such medicines by patients seeing their general practitioner (GP); frequency of GP enquiry about such use; and frequency of recommendations to use a non-prescription medicine.

Patients attending four general practices in Aberdeen, Scotland, completed separate questionnaires (before and after seeing their GP).

Some 461 individuals waiting to see their GP were invited to participate: 427 (93%) completed the pre-consultation questionnaire and 305 (71% of questionnaires issued) completed the post-consultation questionnaire. Almost half (45%) of all participants reported using non-prescription medicines in the 7 days prior to visiting their doctor; with 20% of the medicines purchased from non-pharmacy retail outlets. Thirteen per cent of participants were asked about their use of non-prescribed medicines by their GP. Eight per cent of participants were recommended to use a non-prescription medicine by their GP.

Although there was a high level of recent use of non-prescribed medicines by the general practice attenders, relatively few reported being asked about such use, or were recommended to use such medicines by their GP.