Zicam Gallery

Consumers harbor a number of myths and misunderstandings about colds, which could negatively impact their health and the health of their families.

• Two new national surveys of 500 pharmacists and 500 consumers were designed to gain insights into widely held cold-care myths. The surveys were conducted to better understand the misinformation that is out there regarding colds, and to determine how consumers and pharmacists can work together to educate the general public on treating the common cold earlier and more effectively this season. The surveys, entitled, "Cold-Care Myths" were sponsored by Matrixx Initiatives, Inc. an OTC healthcare company, and makers of Zicam products.
• Both the pharmacist and consumer surveys found that the majority of Americans are misinformed about how and when to treat colds. Most consumers (72 percent) believe there is not much they can do about a cold except mask the symptoms and wait it out.
• Another key finding showed one-third of cold sufferers admit they wait until they feel miserable before taking medications that can help them.
• This belief is in direct contrast to what the majority of U.S. pharmacists believe: 93 percent report that early treatment of a cold can actually prevent a trip to the doctor's office, and 84 percent believe consumers often make poor choices about the best treatments for their colds.
• At a recent roundtable discussion about the results, led by Fred Eckel, Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Experiential Education at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy, pharmacists explored areas where they can help educate consumers about the importance of early intervention and safe and effective treatments that can shorten the duration of a cold.
• This is one of three podcasts that will be made accessible to pharmacists over the next few weeks. Stay tuned for future updates that will reveal additional key findings from the surveys.

Pharmacists want to help consumers identify the right cold-care remedies.

• According to a recent survey investigating Cold-Care Myths, 98 percent of pharmacists agree they should be more involved in educating consumers about appropriate cold treatments.
  • Pharmacists say they see a need to better educate consumers and to combat cold-care myths.
  • 92 percent of pharmacists believe consumers harbor misconceptions about colds and how to best treat them.
  • 97 percent feel consumers should seek pharmacist recommendations about cold treatments.
• At a recent roundtable discussion with pharmacists, panelists agreed with these survey findings, noting how consumers rarely seek the right products and need professional advice on the best available OTC treatments for their symptoms. The pharmacists additionally noted that consumers consider a pharmacist’s opinion just as important as those from their doctor.
• Stay tuned for future updates that will reveal additional survey findings related to pharmacists' perceptions on the role of zinc.

Pharmacists recommend zinc-based cold remedies.

• According to a recent survey investigating Cold-Care Myths, more than half (52 percent) of pharmacists typically recommend taking zinc products in the early stages of a cold, with only 12 percent of consumers proactively doing so.
  • The surveys found consumers are three times more likely to try chicken soup (41 percent) as a means of stopping the progression of a cold as they are to try zinc (12 percent).
  • In contrast, the survey showed almost two-thirds of pharmacists (61 percent) believe zinc-based cold remedies are effective at reducing the duration of a cold.
• At a recent roundtable discussion with pharmacists, panelists agreed with these survey findings and said most pharmacists recommend zinc as an effective way to reduce the duration of a cold.
• Stay tuned for future updates that will reveal additional survey findings related to pharmacists' perceptions on the role of zinc. Stay tuned for future updates that will reveal additional survey findings related to pharmacists' perceptions on the role of zinc.