Table 3 Comparison of COTC users (n = 789) who reported adverse events compared with those who did not report adverse events (AE)
Reported adverse events (n = 25) | No adverse events (n = 764) | Unadjusted P–value* | All COTC-users (n = 789) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Conditions for past year COTC use | % (95% CI) | % (95% CI) | % (95% CI) | |
Cold/Flu | 64.0% (43.8-84.2) | 53.7% (50.1-57.2) | 0.308 | 54.0% (50.5-57.5) |
GI/Digestive problems | 44.0% (23.1-64.9) | 44.0% (40.8-47.9) | 0.971 | 44.0% (40.3-47.2) |
Musculoskeletal pains | 76.0% (58.0-94.0) | 42.7% (39.2-46.2) | 0.001 | 43.9% (40.3-47.2) |
“Qi” (氣) imbalancesa | 32.0% (12.3-51.7) | 23.4% (20.4-26.4) | 0.321 | 23.7% (20.7-26.7) |
General health enhancement | 20.0% (3.1-36.9) | 13.5% (11.1-15.9) | 0.351 | 13.7% (11.3-16.1) |
Sleep problems | 20.0% (3.1-36.9) | 4.8% (3.3-6.4) | 0.001 | 5.3% (3.8-6.9) |
Skin and hair problems | 8.0% (0.0-19.4) | 4.1% (2.7-5.5) | 0.333 | 4.3% (2.8-5.6) |
Treating open wounds | 8.0% (0.0-19.4) | 3.8% (2.4-5.2) | 0.287 | 4.1% (2.6-5.3) |
Chronic respiratory problems | 0.0% (0.0-0.0) | 3.5% (2.2-4.8) | 0.339 | 3.5% (2.2-4.7) |
Slimming/Weight loss | 8.0% (0.0-19.4) | 0.9% (0.2-1.6) | 0.001 | 1.1% (0.4-1.9) |
Blood Pressure/heart conditions | 4.0% (0.0-12.3) | 0.4% (0.0-0.8) | 0.012 | 0.5% (0.0-1.0) |
Improving mental functioning/memory | 8.0% (0.0-19.4) | 0.0% (0.0-0.0) | <0.001 | 0.3% (0.0-0.6) |
Sexual health/reproductive conditions | 0.0% (0.0-0.0) | 0.4% (0.0-0.8) | 0.754 | 0.4% (0.0-0.8) |
Vision problems | 0.0% (0.0-0.0) | 0.3% (0.0-0.6) | 0.798 | 0.3% (0.0-0.6) |
All other conditionsb | 4.0% (0.0-12.3) | 1.7% (0.8-2.6) | 0.392 | 1.8% (0.9-2.7) |
Usual source(s) of COTC information | ||||
TV | 24.0% (6.0-42.0) | 7.6% (5.7-9.5) | 0.003 | 8.1% |
Retailers | 40.0% (19.4-60.6) | 22.2% (19.0-24.0) | 0.037 | 22.8% |
Internet | 4.0% (0.0-12.3) | 5.7% (4.0-7.3) | 0.724 | 5.6% |
Newspapers | 16.0% (0.6-31.4) | 7.4% (5.5-9.2) | 0.109 | 7.6% |
Health professionals | 8.0% (0.0-19.4) | 11.6% (9.4-13.9) | 0.570 | 11.6% |
Friends and Family | 52.0% (31.0-73.0) | 42.9% (39.4-46.4) | 0.377 | 43.4% |
Magazines | 20.0% (3.1-36.9) | 4.9% (3.3-6.4) | 0.001 | 5.3% |
Drug labels/inserts | 66.7% (39.4-90.0) | 56.4% (51.2-58.8) | 0.387 | 56.7% |
Other sources (Books) | 16.0% (6.0-31.4) | 7.1% (5.2-8.9) | 0.092 | 7.6% |
Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | ||
Practice score [out of-28] | 12.2 (5.8) | 9.12 (5.0) | 0.002 | 9.22 (5.00) |
COTC Knowledge scores [max = 6) | 3.64 1.60) | 3.52 (1.45) | 0.712 | 3.52 (1.45) |
Perceived benefits score [max = 12] | 6.76 (3.40) | 6.67 (3.01) | 0.851 | 6.67 (2.99) |
Perceived COTC AE severity [max = 4] | 3.32 (1.14) | 3.61 (0.87) | 0.219 | 3.60 (0.88) |
Perceived AE susceptibility [max = 6] | 2.00 (1.99) | 2.01 (1.71) | 0.902 | 2.01 (1.72) |
Perceived COTC info barriers [max = 12] | 7.36 (2.31) | 7.24 (2.20) | 0.801 | 7.23 2.21) |