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New research suggests that Americans lack a basic understanding of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
The white paper, titled “Understanding America’s Pain,” revealed that 47% of those surveyed do not know what NSAIDs are. These participants additionally failed to correctly identify common painkillers, with 42% believing ibuprofen does not belong to the NSAID class of medicine.
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Conducting research on behalf of Iroko Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on offering treatment options for patients in pain, Kelton Global surveyed more than 1000 adults (51% female, 49% male) in the United States. Thirty percent of survey respondents were between the ages of 18 and 34; 35% were between the ages of 35 and 54; and 35% were older than 55 years of age. More than 75% of survey participants reported having experienced at least one form of pain.
Fifty-eight percent of medication users recognized risks associated with NSAIDs, but only 27% were aware of dosage recommendations introduced by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Adequately controlling pain was a concern for many. Only 31% reported substantial pain relief, with only 48% believing that they are “very confident that the medications they take are the safest and most effective for their pain symptoms.”
“Pain frequently goes untreated. Surprisingly, many Americans do not consult their doctor about appropriate steps to manage pain. It is not surprising, then, that people do not feel their pain is controlled and are not very confident they are appropriately addressing their pain symptoms,” the authors wrote.
Of those surveyed who experience pain, 61% take OTC medications, 51% try sleep, 36% use a heating pad, and 34% use prescription opioids.
Reference
Understanding America’s Pain: Identifying How Americans Experience and Manage Pain. Kelton Global. http://www.nema.org/stds/halide-schools.cfm#download. Accessed April 07, 2016.
