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Synovate\'s latest survey on attitudes towards over the counter medications suggests that many of us are more than aware of this.
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A Healthy Perspective Survey
April 2010
© 2010. Synovate Ltd. All rights reserved.
The concepts and ideas submitted to you herein are the intellectual property of Synovate Ltd. They are strictly of confidential nature and are submitted to you under the understanding that they are to be considered by you in the strictest of confidence and that no use shall be made of the said concepts and ideas, including communication to any third party without Synovate’s express prior consent and/or payment of related professional services fees in full.
2© Synovate 2010
About the survey….
This Synovate In:fact survey, on attitudes towards and confidence in purchasing medication over the counter, was conducted across 17 markets and covered over 12,000
respondents.
The markets covered were:
The survey was conducted in December 2009.
Australia
Belgium
Chile
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Hungary
Indonesia
Korea
Netherlands
Serbia
Singapore
Spain
Taiwan
UAE
UK
USA
3© Synovate 2010
Taking health into hand
Synovate’s latest survey on attitudes towards the use of over the counter medications suggests that many of us are more than aware that the greatest wealth one can have is one’s health.
In fact, 87% of respondents across the 15 markets surveyed, claim to have taken action in the last 12 months to improve their health.
The top activities cited were eating more fruits and vegetables (61%), regular exercise (37%), taking vitamin supplements (35%), and trying to lose weight (33%).
Overall, the majority of respondents feel in good health (60%), with 13% going as far as to say that they are in excellent health.
4© Synovate 2010
So, are our attitudes towards buying over the counter at home mirrored by our behaviour aboard?
It would seem not. Half the Chileans and Germans are uncomfortable buying OTC medications abroad.
Overall, 20% of the respondents said they strongly agree with the statement : “I am confortable buying OTC medicines abroad” vs 21% who strongly disagree.
Some, 29%, even go as far as to say they strongly agree with: “I ask others to buy me OTC when they visit other countries” vs 34% who strongly disagree.
5© Synovate 2010
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
34%
35%
21%
19%
13%
15%
27%
20%
10%
12%
17%
14%
15%
18%
21%
19%
19%
18%
22%
16%
15%
23%
11%
10%
19%
20%
25%
29%
15%
26%
25%
24%
27%
7%
7%
15%
24%
22%
18%
16%
16%
23%
25%
18%
29%
26%
20%
14%
18%
16%
22%
14%
23%
20%
10%
6%
6%
8%
2%
3%
3%
2%
2%
2%
3%
5%
I ask others to buy me OTC medicines when they visit other
countries
I am happy to take sleeping pills when travelling to help me
sleep,for example on aeroplanes
I am comfortable buying OTC medicines abroad
I trust the advice my pharmacist gives me about OTC products
I worry that OTC sales assistants not experienced enough to
recommend some products
I prefer to use alternative medicine whenever I can
I've taken OTC products without properly reading the
label/following the directions
I prefer over the counter than through the Doctor when I can
I worry about taking any medicines not prescribed by a doctor
I prefer to use/ give my family recognised brands
I consider own brand OTC products as effective as branded
products
Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Neither agree or disagree Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree DK/Ref
6© Synovate 2010
In good hands?
When it comes to our health, we would be forgiven for seeking only what we believe to be the best advice. Does this only come from our doctors however? Are there other sources of information that we can rely on?
We asked respondents which sources of health information they used. Overall, the three most popular are:
•GP / family doctor / physician / public health doctor (69%)
•Specialist doctor / general health specialist (34%)
•Pharmacist / chemist (29%)
Overall, 46% worry about taking any medicines that haven’t been prescribed by a doctor. At market level, the UAE felt most strongly (64%), followed by Singapore (63%) and Hong Kong (61%).
Similarly, 42% disagree that they would prefer to obtain their medications over the counter, rather than through their doctor. This was led by Serbia and Taiwan, both with 71%.
7© Synovate 2010
Curiosities
• Overall, 87% have taken action in the last 12 months to improve their health.
• 40% worry that over the counter sales assistants are not experienced enough to recommend products.
• 95% of Hungarians strongly agree that they are happy to take sleeping pills when travelling, conversely, 83% of Serbians strongly disagree.
• 71% of Spaniards don’t believe own label products to be as effective as branded over the counter products.
© Synovate 2010
Contact our experts for further insights:
Americas - [email protected] – [email protected] – [email protected]
To view the current issue of In:Fact visit:
http://www.synovate.com/insights/infact/issues/201004/
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