Volume 30, Issue 167, January 2026

Knowledge about the use of overthe- counter painkillers in society

Dominik Jucha^1♦, Dominika Wiśniewska¹, Martyna Winiarska¹, Michał Klimas¹, Arkadiusz Jamro², Sabina Krupa-Nurcek³

¹Student of the Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Rzeszow, Poland
²Medical Center ZOZ 2 in Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland
³Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Rzeszow, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Dominik Jucha, University of Rzeszow, Poland

ABSTRACT

Background: Modern society is increasingly reaching for over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers, treating them as a quick and convenient solution in the fight against everyday pain. Aim: The purpose of the research was to assess the level of knowledge regarding the use of over-the-counter painkillers among the cohort population. Material and methods: This study used a questionnaire method in the preparation of this article. The research tool was a self-designed survey, which permitted the collection of data and served as the basis for the study. Data collection utilized a web-based questionnaire comprising 28 distinct items. Results: All respondents in the study group claimed using over-the-counter painkillers in the past year. A quarter of the study group stated using over-the-counter remedies at least once a month. The frequency of use of over-the-counter painkillers varies quite a bit in the group of subjects. Younger subjects are less likely to use over-thecounter painkillers. In the study group, the most commonly used over-the-counter analgesics were ibuprofen (38%) and paracetamol (23%). There were no statistically significant findings in the relationship between the place of purchase of over-thecounter painkillers and the gender and age of the subjects. Conclusions: Studies indicate that more and more adult Poles reach for over-the-counter painkillers at least once a year, and knowledge about their use is still insufficient.

Keywords: painkillers, pain relievers, over-the-counter drugs, analgesia, pharmacology

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e6ms3763

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Published: 12 January 2026