학술논문
일반의약품 판매 제도에 대한 소비자의 인식도와 대응행동 및 만족도에 관한 연구
Consumer Awareness, Reaction and Satisfaction of Over-the-Counter Drug Sales Regulation
Consumer Awareness, Reaction and Satisfaction of Over-the-Counter Drug Sales Regulation
Document Type
Article
Text
Text
Author
Source
소비자정책교육연구, 12/30/2015, Vol. 11, Issue 4, p. 159-183
Subject
Language
Korean
ISSN
1738-9194
Abstract
This paper studies two policies that regulate Over-the-Counter(OTC) drug sales in Korea. Previously OTC drugs were only available in pharmacies in Korea. Since 2012, 13 OTC brands are allowed to be sold in convenience stores as well as pharmacies. We also study the open price system of OTC drugs that allows retailers, pharmacies and convenient stores, to price OTC drugs independently. We surveyed 400 consumers aged 20 to 50 living in Seoul and Gyonggi area on their attitudes towards drug safety, awareness of these policies, reaction, and satisfaction towards the policies. We find 73 percent of the respondents are indifferent to the drug safety and their awareness, reaction and satisfaction of OTC sales regulation in non-pharmacies is lower than those with higher drug safety attitude. Using the structural equation modeling(SEM) we find significant relationship among awareness, reaction and satisfaction for each policy. Those who are more aware of the OTC sales regulation in non-pharmacies are more likely to purchase OTC drugs from convenience stores, and are more satisfied to the policy. In addition we find when the information of the policy is simple and easy to understand, consumers are more likely to purchase OTC drugs from convenience stores and are more satisfied with the policy. When the information of the policy is complicated and difficult to understand, we do not find any significant relationship between awareness, reaction and satisfaction. This implies the easiness and usefulness of the policy information plays a key role for the success of the policy. One need to motivate consumers to be more aware of drug safety issues and continue to promote the policy and educate the consumers. Those consumers who are more aware of open price regulation of OTC drugs more actively search for lower price and are more satisfied with the policy. However those consumers with more active search are less satisfied to the policy. Based on our results we provide policy implications in both OTC sales regulation in non-pharmacies and OTC drug open price system.