TY - JOUR

T1 - Over-the-counter codeine use in Iceland

T2 - The impact of increased access

AU - Almarsdóttir, Anna Birna

AU - Grímsson, Almar

PY - 2000/1/1

Y1 - 2000/1/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - codeine

KW - drug utilization

KW - interrupted time series analysis

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84993781841&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/14034948000280041001

DO - 10.1177/14034948000280041001

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84993781841

VL - 28

SP - 270

EP - 274

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Supplement

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Supplement

SN - 1403-4956

IS - 4

ER -