Factors influencing purchase of and counselling about prescription and OTC medicines at community pharmacies in Tallinn, Estonia.

The aims of the current survey were to evaluate factors influencing purchase of prescription and OTC medicines of pharmacy customers in Tallinn, Estonia and to identify the role of community pharmacists in counselling of prescription and OTC medicines. Structured questionnaire was used to interview pharmacy customers (n = 1820) in six community pharmacies of Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. The survey instrument consisted of 15 multiple-choice items. According to the survey results, prescription and OTC medicines were bought from community pharmacies almost equally. The most popular OTC medicines were analgesics (38%), cold and cough medicines (21%). The older survey participants and these with lower income and with elementary school education bought more prescription medicines (p < 0.01). Survey participants with higher income were purchasing more OTC medicines and food supplements (p < 0.01). Before purchase of medicines recommendations were received mainly from physicians about prescription and from pharmacists about OTC medicines. However, the counselling provided by community pharmacists in selecting of both types of medicines was highly appreciated. Pharmacists as source for drug information were less trusted among the survey participants < 25 and 26-40 years (p < 0.01). Fast service and confidential counselling about medicines was less important for the respondents with elementary school education (p < 0.01).