Chronic Pain Conditions and Over-the-Counter Analgesic Purchases in U.S. Households: An Analysis of Nielsen-Kilts Ailment and Consumer Panel Data (2023)
Chronic pain is a prevalent public health concern in the United States, frequently managed with over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers without professional medical supervision. This study investigates household-level patterns of over-the-counter painkiller use utilizing a nationally representative datas...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Psychoactives |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1851/4/2/18 |
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| author | Chesmi Kumbalatara Dollia Cortez Wasantha Jayawardene |
| author_facet | Chesmi Kumbalatara Dollia Cortez Wasantha Jayawardene |
| author_sort | Chesmi Kumbalatara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chronic pain is a prevalent public health concern in the United States, frequently managed with over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers without professional medical supervision. This study investigates household-level patterns of over-the-counter painkiller use utilizing a nationally representative dataset from NielsenIQ, focusing on how reported health conditions, whether self-identified or professionally diagnosed, affect purchasing behaviors. By linking consumer purchase data with self-reported ailment information, this study analyzed painkiller expenditures across different ailment types and demographic groups. Results show that over-the-counter painkiller purchases were highly symptom-driven, particularly for headache-related products, which were the most frequently purchased category across all household types. Nearly one-third of single-member households purchased over-the-counter painkillers for headaches, regardless of diagnosis type, indicating a strong role of perceived need in driving behavior. Females and older individuals more frequently reported ailments, with consistently higher proportions across both pain-related and other conditions. Nonetheless, a notable share of households reported over-the-counter painkiller use without any reported ailments. The findings suggest that diagnostic status plays a limited role in determining over-the-counter painkiller usage, emphasizing the need for improved public health messaging around safe self-medication. These insights can inform targeted education, labeling regulations, and policy interventions to support safer and more equitable pain management practices at the population level. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0ca6580607d34ad4bbaf59b04db02b89 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2813-1851 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychoactives |
| spelling | doaj-art-0ca6580607d34ad4bbaf59b04db02b892025-08-20T02:21:53ZengMDPI AGPsychoactives2813-18512025-06-01421810.3390/psychoactives4020018Chronic Pain Conditions and Over-the-Counter Analgesic Purchases in U.S. Households: An Analysis of Nielsen-Kilts Ailment and Consumer Panel Data (2023)Chesmi Kumbalatara0Dollia Cortez1Wasantha Jayawardene2School of Human Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USASchool of Human Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USASchool of Human Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USAChronic pain is a prevalent public health concern in the United States, frequently managed with over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers without professional medical supervision. This study investigates household-level patterns of over-the-counter painkiller use utilizing a nationally representative dataset from NielsenIQ, focusing on how reported health conditions, whether self-identified or professionally diagnosed, affect purchasing behaviors. By linking consumer purchase data with self-reported ailment information, this study analyzed painkiller expenditures across different ailment types and demographic groups. Results show that over-the-counter painkiller purchases were highly symptom-driven, particularly for headache-related products, which were the most frequently purchased category across all household types. Nearly one-third of single-member households purchased over-the-counter painkillers for headaches, regardless of diagnosis type, indicating a strong role of perceived need in driving behavior. Females and older individuals more frequently reported ailments, with consistently higher proportions across both pain-related and other conditions. Nonetheless, a notable share of households reported over-the-counter painkiller use without any reported ailments. The findings suggest that diagnostic status plays a limited role in determining over-the-counter painkiller usage, emphasizing the need for improved public health messaging around safe self-medication. These insights can inform targeted education, labeling regulations, and policy interventions to support safer and more equitable pain management practices at the population level.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1851/4/2/18over-the-counter painkillerschronic painself-reported ailmentsOTC medication purchasing |
| spellingShingle | Chesmi Kumbalatara Dollia Cortez Wasantha Jayawardene Chronic Pain Conditions and Over-the-Counter Analgesic Purchases in U.S. Households: An Analysis of Nielsen-Kilts Ailment and Consumer Panel Data (2023) Psychoactives over-the-counter painkillers chronic pain self-reported ailments OTC medication purchasing |
| title | Chronic Pain Conditions and Over-the-Counter Analgesic Purchases in U.S. Households: An Analysis of Nielsen-Kilts Ailment and Consumer Panel Data (2023) |
| title_full | Chronic Pain Conditions and Over-the-Counter Analgesic Purchases in U.S. Households: An Analysis of Nielsen-Kilts Ailment and Consumer Panel Data (2023) |
| title_fullStr | Chronic Pain Conditions and Over-the-Counter Analgesic Purchases in U.S. Households: An Analysis of Nielsen-Kilts Ailment and Consumer Panel Data (2023) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chronic Pain Conditions and Over-the-Counter Analgesic Purchases in U.S. Households: An Analysis of Nielsen-Kilts Ailment and Consumer Panel Data (2023) |
| title_short | Chronic Pain Conditions and Over-the-Counter Analgesic Purchases in U.S. Households: An Analysis of Nielsen-Kilts Ailment and Consumer Panel Data (2023) |
| title_sort | chronic pain conditions and over the counter analgesic purchases in u s households an analysis of nielsen kilts ailment and consumer panel data 2023 |
| topic | over-the-counter painkillers chronic pain self-reported ailments OTC medication purchasing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1851/4/2/18 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chesmikumbalatara chronicpainconditionsandoverthecounteranalgesicpurchasesinushouseholdsananalysisofnielsenkiltsailmentandconsumerpaneldata2023 AT dolliacortez chronicpainconditionsandoverthecounteranalgesicpurchasesinushouseholdsananalysisofnielsenkiltsailmentandconsumerpaneldata2023 AT wasanthajayawardene chronicpainconditionsandoverthecounteranalgesicpurchasesinushouseholdsananalysisofnielsenkiltsailmentandconsumerpaneldata2023 |