Key Findings of a National Survey on Cough Medicine Use

This summary report presents the key findings of a national survey of American adults regarding the use of over-the-counter cough remedies to alleviate cough symptoms resulting from the flu, a cold, or other respiratory ailment. The survey was conducted January 11-21, 2007, with over 3,000 adult Americans, 18 years of age and older.

Specifically, the research objectives were to:

• Estimate what proportion of the US adult population personally experienced or had a child in their home experience a cough due to a respiratory ailment (flu or cold) during the past three months.
• Explore what steps were taken by those experiencing a cough to treat symptoms or obtain relief.
• Examine the perceived effectiveness of over-the-counter cough remedies among those who personally used one or administered one to a child in their household.