Older adults: factors that predict the use of over-the-counter medication

Previous research has found over-the-counter (OTC) medication use not easily predicted from physical symptom experience. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between older adults' use of OTC medications and mood, social, health and demographic variables. Interviews were conducted with 186 adults aged 65 to 99 years. The mood variables of anxiety and depression were measured by the Profile of Mood States. The quality and degree of intimacy in a social relationship was measured by the Emotional Bondedness Scale. OTC medication use was measured by assessing frequency of OTC medication use, the total number of categories of OTC medication used, and the use of OTC medications in response to symptoms. Subjective health appraisal, number of chronic illnesses, number of prescriptive medications, the number of symptoms experienced in the previous month, and physician-office visit frequency were recorded. OTC medication use was predicted by the total number of symptoms experienced, emotional bondedness, age, anxiety, income, cohabitation status, and the frequency of physician-office visits. The total number of symptoms experienced accounted for more variance in OTC medication use than any other variable.