Actual use of and adherence to ibuprofen 400 mg tablet dosing instructions in a simulated OTC environment .

Objective: Evaluate adherence of US consumers to proposed label directions for a new 400 mg ibuprofen formulation.

Methods: In this single-arm, open-label, multicenter, 30-day study simulating an over-the-counter (OTC)-like environment, US analgesic consumers reviewed proposed product packaging for a new 400 mg ibuprofen formulation and made a purchase decision. Purchasers used the product as needed and recorded use over 30 days.

Using community pharmacies to conduct an HSV-1 prevalence study.

Purpose: To describe the effectiveness of community-based pharmacists in conducting a study to measure the baseline prevalence of Herpes simplex virus, type-1 susceptibility to two antiviral medications in subjects with recurrent Herpes labialis.

Method: A cross-sectional study conducted in 47 US community pharmacies. The pharmacist obtained a viral sample from the surface of the lesion, placed the virus-laden swab in a vial of holding medium, and stored it in a refrigerator until shipment to a central laboratory.