Factors Influencing Household Heads’ Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Over-the-Counter Medications in Rural and Urban Barangays of Dapitan City

Abstract

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are widely used for self-management of minor illnesses and are increasingly important within the broader framework of self-care and universal health coverage under Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3). However, safe and informed OTC use depends largely on consumers’ knowledge, attitudes, and decision-making context. This study examined the factors influencing household heads’ knowledge and attitudes toward OTC medications in selected rural and urban barangays of Dapitan City, Philippines. Using a quantitative descriptive-comparative design, data were collected from household heads through a structured questionnaire covering demographic profile, commonly purchased OTC medicines, knowledge domains, attitude dimensions, and behavioral influences such as retail store recommendations, family advice, previous experience, and price. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were utilized to analyze the data. Findings indicated that commonly purchased OTC medicines were associated with fever, pain, cough, colds, and digestive symptoms. No significant difference was found in knowledge levels between rural and urban respondents, suggesting comparable baseline awareness. However, a significant difference emerged in attitudes, indicating that contextual factors shape perceptions and decision tendencies. Rural respondents demonstrated stronger reliance on price, retail recommendations, and family influence, while urban respondents were more influenced by prior experience and product familiarity. The findings highlight that household medication behavior is shaped not only by health literacy but also by access, affordability, and social trust systems. The study underscores the need for context-sensitive medication literacy initiatives, pharmacist-supported counselling, and community-based health education strategies to promote safer self-medication practices in both rural and urban settings.