This telephone survey of medication use in the U. S. population was conducted from February 1998 through April 2007. Participants were identified by random digit dialing and completed a brief confidential interview. Information was obtained on the use of prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins and herbal preparations/natural supplements during the previous week. Details such as frequency and duration of use were recorded for each product. A brief medical history was also obtained. This unique resource provides a basis for comprehensive evaluation of medication use in the U.S.; because the survey was conducted continuously, it is possible to study time trends and seasonality of medication use. More than 25,000 subjects were interviewed during the course of the survey. The database remains available for analysis of topics of interest.

Investigators:

Allen A. Mitchell, M.D., Principal Investigator
David W. Kaufman, Sc.D., Co-Investigator
Lynn Rosenberg, Sc.D., Co-Investigator

Study Staff:

Judith Kelly, M.S., Epidemiologist
Theresa Anderson, R.N., Project Coordinator

Source of funding:

Major support for this study has been provided by Slone Epidemiology Center internal funds. Special projects have been requested and supported by the Food and Drug Administration, pharmaceutical companies, private foundations, and other researchers.

A grant from NCCAM supported an analysis of alternative medicine use in minority populations using the Survey data.

Data Collection:

February 1998 through April 2007

Analysis:

Ongoing

Publications:

Link to Publications

Presentations:

Link to Presentations

Contact information:

E-mail David Kaufman at dkaufman@slone.bu.edu