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For the most common conditions suffered by consumers or someone in their household, OTCs served as the first line of defense for more than 40% of consumers across the board, according to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers that was conducted in September.

For the 77% of AccentHealth viewers who had experienced heartburn in the past year, 46% used an OTC treatment for relief. For top five symptoms/conditions experienced by viewers in the past year — including cold, cough/sore throat, headache, sinus/nasal congestion and runny nose — 43% of consumers used OTCs to address those conditions before other treatment options.

Among those health conditions treated with OTCs, AccentHealth viewers reported that allergies, sinus/nasal congestion and pain — including back, muscle and menstrual — to be the most commonly suffered chronic conditions. And cold symptoms and headaches were the most commonly suffered acute conditions, according to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers that was conducted in September.

As many as 95% reported that either themselves or someone in their household had a cold, 92% suffered from a cough or sore throat, and 91% experienced a headache. The top conditions suffered chronically by respondents included sinus/nasal congestion (90%), muscle ache/pain (87%) and allergy (87%).

More and more, consumers are turning to OTCs as the first line of defense when they first get sick — regardless of the condition suffered — and that appears to be consistent among AccentHealth viewers. According to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in September, one-quarter of patients said they have increased their use of OTC products in the past year.

One important finding from a recent online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in September confirmed that more patients continue to embrace the community pharmacy as a preferred destination for flu vaccinations. Nearly 1-in-4 said they have received or plan to receive a flu shot this year in a retail pharmacy setting — up four percentage points from a year ago.

Focusing solely on patients that did not receive a flu shot in 2011, the recent AccentHealth data indicate a net increase of 11 percentage points in the number who will vaccinate in 2012. And while there appears to be a greater propensity to receive a flu vaccination among patients 45 and older, “the younger audience segment is still an important area of focus and opportunity of market growth,” noted AccentHealth VP market research Natalie Hill. Only half of adults younger than 45 years old reported they will receive the shot this year.

AccentHealth collected data through an online survey conducted from Sept. 18 to Sept. 30, 2012. There were a total of 940 people who responded via AccentHealth's national, online panel of network viewers ages 18 years and up who opt-in to participate in reasearch with AccentHealth.

According to Surescripts, almost 400,000 physicians — about 58% of all office-based doctors — were e-prescribing at the end of 2011. The net effect: About 36% of all prescriptions were sent electronically in 2011.


The interest in healthcare reform has reached a new high, especially in light of the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, yet there's no denying that consumers are still unclear as to the impact on their personal healthcare and insurance issues. That being said, Americans see a need for change as they battle rising costs and a lack of access to care, and many are saying "aye" to healthcare reform, according to the most recent Patient Views infographic. To be specific, two-thirds of respondents say they support healthcare reform, according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August.

A lot of people have quite a few things to say about healthcare reform, whether they favor or oppose it. But supporters of the law show an altruistic sensibility and an understanding of how the law would benefit other Americans, according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August.

When all things are equal — particularly, cost! — there is no doubt that satisfied pharmacy customers are fiercely loyal to their preferred stores. But like Cyndi Lauper once sang, "Money changes everything," particularly for the 32% of Patient Views respondents who said they would be willing to change pharmacies for a savings of $5 or less, according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August.

With Walgreens back in the Express Scripts network again and all of those millions of patients suddenly up for grabs, today's Patient Views infographic is an important reminder of how difficult it can be to get pharmacy patients to switch — that is, assuming things like cost and access are equal. Overall, 73% of patients said they were very satisfied with the their preferred pharmacy, according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August. Interestingly enough, grocery stores finished at the top of the curve.

Despite the fact that 77% of pharmacy patients believe that the pharmacist at their preferred pharmacy is always available to answer their questions, consult on medications, etc., only 28% say that they interact often with their pharmacist. And again, this is an area where local independents are way ahead of the curve (52%), according to an exclusive survey of nearly 800 patients conducted by AccentHealth and DSN in late July and early August.