There is an expanding variety of home testing and monitoring kits available for patients interested in preventative care, detecting the presence or absence of a medical or physiologic condition, and monitoring therapy or results of a wellness routine. Also important is the availability and relatively low cost of nonprescription contraceptive and family planning options. For many, low-cost and low-risk nonprescription methods may be appropriate at different times during a person’s life.
Diagnostics
Blood pressure monitors..................... (n = 646)
- Omron........................................................... 42%
- Walgreens........................................................ 4%
- CVS Health....................................................... 2%
- FreesStyle......................................................... 2%
- ReliON............................................................. 1%
Lancets........................................ (n = 487)
- OneTouch....................................................... 27%
- FreeStyle.......................................................... 9%
- Accu-Check...................................................... 8%
- BD................................................................... 5%
- ReliON ............................................................ 3%
Blood glucose monitoring................... (n = 600)
- OneTouch....................................................... 27%
- FreeStyle........................................................ 17%
- Accu-Check...................................................... 9%
- Dexcom........................................................... 5%
- Contour Next.................................................... 4%
Digital thermometer.......................... (n = 466)
- Braun............................................................. 10%
- Vicks.............................................................. 10%
- BD................................................................... 3%
- Walgreens........................................................ 2%
- Omron............................................................. 2%
Family planning
Emergency contraceptive pill................ (n = 595)
- Plan B............................................................ 64%
- My Way............................................................ 2%
- Take Action....................................................... 2%
- Aftera............................................................... 1%
- Ella.................................................................. 1%
Ovulation test.................................. (n = 565)
- Clearblue........................................................ 25%
- First Response.................................................. 6%
- e.p.t................................................................. 1%
- One Step.......................................................... 1%
- CVS Health....................................................... 1%
Prenatal vitamins............................. (n = 509)
- Nature Made................................................... 16%
- One A Day...................................................... 12%
- Stuart Prenatal.................................................. 4%
- Nature’s Bounty................................................ 3%
- Centrum........................................................... 2%
Pregnancy testing............................. (n = 628)
- Clearblue........................................................ 26%
- First Response................................................ 23%
- e.p.t................................................................. 5%
- CVS Health....................................................... 1%
- Equate.............................................................. 1%
Self-care survey redux
This section of Pharmacy Today’s Self-Care Product Survey is reprinted from the full survey results published in the January 2023 issue of the magazine and available online at pharmacy-today.org.
The current survey was conducted using scientifically valid methodology and determines those nonprescription products most often recommended by pharmacists in the United States to consumers.
The winners were selected based on a survey of 1,682 pharmacists practicing in the United States who gave their unaided write-in opinions on which brands they’d recommend to patients in 86 categories. The highest share of citations as Most Trusted in the category determined the winner. If the margin of citation share between the leading brands did not exceed the estimate of sampling error at 90% statistical confidence, a tie was declared.
The n value given for each category represents the total number of responding pharmacists’ recommendations.
Please also see APhAs Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, the definitive source of professional information about OTC products. The Handbook is available online at PharmacyLibrary.com or in print in the bookstore at www.pharmacist.com.
These data may not be used without the prior permission of APhA.