Abstract
Background: The objective of this study was to test the assumption that liberalizing community pharmacy ownership in Iceland would lead to increased irrational use of over-the-counter pain relievers containing codeine. Methods: Based on this assumption we built and tested a model using an interrupted time series design that contrasts the monthly sales data for over-the-counter pain relievers containing codeine before and after the legislation took effect. Results: The total use of over-the-counter pain relievers containing codeine as well as those containing paracetamol and codeine has risen steadily throughout the period under study. The interrupted time series did not show a substantial effect from the legislative change on the use of all over-the-counter codeine pain relievers, paracetemol with codeine, and aspirin with codeine combinations. Conclusion: The assumption that increased access leads to irrational use of over-the-counter medicines is not substantiated in the case of over-the-counter pain relievers containing codeine.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Book series | Scandinavian Journal of Public Health |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Pages (from-to) | 270-274 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| ISSN | 1403-4948 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2000 |
Keywords
- codeine
- drug utilization
- interrupted time series analysis