The study was conducted in the area of Trois-Rivières, in Quebec, Canada. Grounded theory methods were used to document elderly women's practices related to over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and to uncover the lay rationale underlying those practices. The data consisted of transcribed interviews with 20 women, 65 years old and over, Frenchspeaking, and living alone.

At the beginning of the study, it was assumed that when elderly women take OTC products, they know that those products are classified as OTC drugs. However, most of the time, respondents used OTC drugs without being aware that they were defined as such. In a number of instances, the participant thought that the OTC drug taken was a prescription drug. Other times, even if the informant knew that it was available over-the-counter, she took the OTC drug because it was prescribed or recommended by the physician and she saw it as a prescription drug. Finally, sometimes, OTC drugs taken were ribt even seen as drugs but as natural products or as traditional or inoffensive remedies.

In terms of the paradigm model described by Strauss & Corbin (1990), causal conditions related to the use of OTC drugs were having symptoms, having OTC drugs prescribed by the physician, or being influenced through lay people, media, or other means, for example, seeing the OTC product at the drugstore. However, for initial use of an OTC drug to occur, beyond causal conditions, some intervening conditions had to be met.

Intervening conditions included knowledge of an OTC drug that could be used; belief in its effectiveness and safety; affordability of the OTC drug to be used; and, its availability. In addition, having recourse to non OTC drug strategies such as prescripion drugs or nondrug measures could prevent the use of an OTC drug. Consequences of using OTC drugs were the evaluation of its effectiveness, safety, and convenience.

The decision to use an OTC drug could evolve over time; and data showed that practices related to OTC drug use could be described in terms of their frequency, their stability, and their association with nondrug measures. Finally, some psychosocial needs associated with OTC drug use were uncovered. A discussion of the findings in light of the existing literature is presented, as well as recommendations for practice and research.

Le 21 juin 1999