Consumer Health Products Survey - Text Descriptions

Exhibit 3.1.4.a: How Informed when Purchasing Products

Chart demonstrating How Informed when Purchasing Products. In response to the question “In general, how informed do you feel when you buy products in the following categories? On a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 is not well informed at all and 7 is extremely well informed”, 2502 survey respondents gave these answers-

• Non-prescription drugs- Not well informed (score of 1, 2, or 3)- 33%; Well informed (score of 5, 6 or 7)- 37%
• Cosmetics- Not well informed (score of 1, 2, or 3)- 45%; Well informed (score of 5, 6 or 7)- 29%
• Natural health products- Not well informed (score of 1, 2, or 3)- 58%; Well informed (score of 5, 6 or 7)- 19%

Return to Exhibit 3.1.4.a: How Informed when Purchasing Products

Exhibit 3.1.7.a: Perceived Meaning of “SPF 15”

Chart demonstrating perceived meaning of SPF 15. In response to the question “When you come across a product that says “SPF 15” on the label, what does that mean to you?”, 2502 survey respondents gave these answers

• Sun protection at lower dosage- 23%; Sun protection factor 15 – 15%; Protects from the sun/UV rays (general) – 15%; Sun protection factor (general)- 15%; Sunscreen- 7%
• 15 times longer in the sun safety- 6%; 15 times the protection from the sun – 5%; All other mentions- 5%; Don’t know – 7%; None/nothing/refused- 7%

Return to Exhibit 3.1.7.a: Perceived Meaning of “SPF 15”

Exhibit 3.1.8.a: Awareness of Product Identifiers

Chart demonstrating awareness of product identifier. In response to the question “Have you ever heard of a Drug Identification Number (DIN, Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM)”, 2502 survey respondents gave these answers.

• heard of a Drug Identification Number (DIN) -57%
• aware of a Natural Product Number (NPN) -15%
• heard of a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) -10%

Return to Exhibit 3.1.8.a: Awareness of Product Identifiers

Exhibit 3.2.1.a: Perceptions of Product Safety

Chart demonstrating perception of Product Safety. In response to the question “How safe do you believe the following products sold in Canada are?  On a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 is not safe at all and 7 is extremely safe.”, 2502 survey respondents gave these answers.

• For non-prescription drugs, 9% perceive as unsafe (score of 1, 2 or 3); 70% perceive as safe (score of 5, 6 or 7)
• For cosmetics, 14% perceive as unsafe (score of 1, 2 or 3); 60% perceive as safe (score of 5, 6 or 7)
• For natural health products, 20perceive as unsafe (score of 1, 2 or 3); 51% perceive as safe (score of 5, 6 or 7)

Return to Exhibit 3.2.1.a: Perceptions of Product Safety

Exhibit 3.2.2.a: Attitudes Towards Safety

Chart demonstrating Attitude towards Safety. When asked "It is the product manufacturer's responsibility to ensure a product is safe”, 2502 survey respondents gave the following answer

• 61% believe (a score of 5, 6, or 7 on a 7-point scale) that it is the product manufactures responsibility to ensure safety of consumer products and 21% do not believe (score of 1, 2 or 3).

Return to Exhibit 3.2.2.a: Attitudes Towards Safety

Exhibit 3.2.3.a: Trust in Claims on Labels

Chart demonstrating Trust in Claims on Labels. In response to the question “How much do you trust the claims made on the labels of? On a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 is do not trust at all and 7 is trust completely”, 2502 survey respondents gave these answers-

• Non-prescription drugs- Do not trust (score of 1, 2, or 3)- 31%; Trust (score of 5, 6 or 7)- 36%
• Cosmetics- Do not trust (score of 1, 2, or 3)- 50%; Trust (score of 5, 6 or 7)- 22%
• Natural health products- Do not trust (score of 1, 2, or 3)- 52%; Trust (score of 5, 6 or 7)- 18%

Return to Exhibit 3.2.3.a: Trust in Claims on Labels

Exhibit 3.2.4.a: Attitudes Towards Claims

Chart demonstrating Attitudes Towards Claims. In response to the question “How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? On a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 is completely disagree and 7 is completely agree”, 2502 survey respondents gave these answers-

• Claims made on the labels of products must be supported by science- Do not believe (score of 1, 2, or 3)- 19%; Believe (score of 5, 6 or 7)- 66%
• All products claiming they do the same thing must have the same level of proof provided by the manufacturer to support their claim- Do not believe (score of 1, 2, or 3)- 19%; Believe (score of 5, 6 or 7)- 66%
• Product claims must be true if they are written on the label- Do not believe (score of 1, 2, or 3)- 35%; Believe (score of 5, 6 or 7)- 52%
• Products with similar claims will do the same thing- Do not believe (score of 1, 2, or 3)- 54%; Believe (score of 5, 6 or 7)- 20%

Return to Exhibit 3.2.4.a: Attitudes Towards Claims

Exhibit 3.3.1.a: Frequency of Product Use

Chart demonstrating Frequency of Product Use. In response to the question “On average, how frequently do you use each of the following products?”, 2502 survey respondents gave these answers-

• Hair care products- Frequent users (use at least once per week)- 79%; Infrequent users (use less than once per week)- 10%; Non-users (never use)- 10%
• Skin care products- Frequent users (use at least once per week)- 70%; Infrequent users (use less than once per week)- 18%; Non-users (never use)- 10%
• Natural health products- Frequent users (use at least once per week)- 56%; Infrequent users (use less than once per week)- 22%; Non-users (never use)- 22%
• Sunscreen products- Frequent users (use at least once per week)- 32%; Infrequent users (use less than once per week)- 58%; Non-users (never use)- 11%
• Pain relievers- Frequent users (use at least once per week)- 25%; Infrequent users (use less than once per week)- 68%; Non-users (never use)- 8%
• Antacids and laxatives- Frequent users (use at least once per week)- 14%; Infrequent users (use less than once per week)- 45%; Non-users (never use)- 42%
• Allergy relievers and decongestants- Frequent users (use at least once per week)- 14%; Infrequent users (use less than once per week)- 52%; Non-users (never use)- 33%
• Traditional natural health products- Frequent users (use at least once per week)- 10%; Infrequent users (use less than once per week)- 21%; Non-users (never use)- 70%
• Homeopathic products- Frequent users (use at least once per week)- 8%; Infrequent users (use less than once per week)- 26%; Non-users (never use)- 66%
• Cough, cold and flu medicines- Frequent users (use at least once per week)- 4%; Infrequent users (use less than once per week)- 85%; Non-users (never use)- 12%

Return to Exhibit 3.3.1.a: Frequency of Product Use

Exhibit 3.3.2.1.a: Incidence and Frequency of Reading Labelling or Packaging – Natural Health Products

Chart demonstrating Incidence and Frequency of Reading labelling or packaging - Natural Health Products. In response to the question “Thinking about Natural Health Products, which part(s) of the labelling or packaging do you read and how frequently do you read them?”, 2502 survey respondents gave these answers-

• Dosage- every time I use it -28%; every time I buy it- 30%; about half of the time- 12%; only the first time I buy it- 16%; never-7%; don’t know-7%
• Directions on how to use the product- every time I use it -24%; every time I buy it- 28%; about half of the time- 14%; only the first time I buy it- 20%; never-8%; don’t know-6%
• Warnings about the product- every time I use it -24%; every time I buy it- 33%; about half of the time- 15%; only the first time I buy it- 24%; never-9%; don’t know-7%
• Brand or product name- every time I use it -9%; every time I buy it- 41%; about half of the time- 14%; only the first time I buy it- 18%; never-10%; don’t know-8%
• Ingredients in the product- every time I use it -7%; every time I buy it- 31%; about half of the time- 17%; only the first time I buy it- 25%; never-13%; don’t know-7%
• Package insert or leaflet- every time I use it -7%; every time I buy it- 23%; about half of the time- 19%; only the first time I buy it- 28%; never-16%; don’t know-7%
• Where the product was made- every time I use it -6%; every time I buy it- 26%; about half of the time- 15%; only the first time I buy it- 19%; never-27%; don’t know-8%
• Endorsements- every time I use it -4%; every time I buy it- 19%; about half of the time- 20%; only the first time I buy it- 22%; never-26%; don’t know-8%

Return to Exhibit 3.3.2.1.a: Incidence and Frequency of Reading Labelling or Packaging – Natural Health Products

Exhibit 3.3.2.2.a: Incidence and Frequency of Reading Labelling or Packaging – Non Prescription Drugs

Chart demonstrating Incidence and Frequency of Reading labelling or packaging – Non-Prescription Drugs. In response to the question “Thinking about Non-Prescription Drugs, which part(s) of the labelling or packaging do you read and how frequently do you read them?”, 2502 survey respondents gave these answers-

• Dosage- every time I use it -37%; every time I buy it- 30%; about half of the time- 14%; only the first time I buy it- 16%; never-2%; don’t know-2%
• Directions on how to use the product- every time I use it -30%; every time I buy it- 33%; about half of the time- 15%; only the first time I buy it- 19%; never-2%; don’t know-2%
• Warnings about the product- every time I use it -14%; every time I buy it- 38%; about half of the time- 17%; only the first time I buy it- 25%; never-4%; don’t know-2%
• Brand or product name- every time I use it -13%; every time I buy it- 48%; about half of the time- 14%; only the first time I buy it- 20%; never-3%; don’t know-2%
• Ingredients in the product- every time I use it -7%; every time I buy it- 31%; about half of the time- 21%; only the first time I buy it- 27%; never-13%; don’t know-2%
• Package insert or leaflet- every time I use it -7%; every time I buy it- 24%; about half of the time- 24%; only the first time I buy it- 31%; never-12%; don’t know-2%
• Where the product was made- every time I use it -6%; every time I buy it- 23%; about half of the time- 15%; only the first time I buy it-21%; never-29%; don’t know-4%
• Endorsements- every time I use it -5%; every time I buy it- 18%; about half of the time- 23%; only the first time I buy it- 24%; never-26%; don’t know-4%

Return to Exhibit 3.3.2.2.a: Incidence and Frequency of Reading Labelling or Packaging – Non Prescription Drugs

Exhibit 3.3.2.3.a: Incidence and Frequency of Reading Labelling or Packaging – Cosmetics

Chart demonstrating Incidence and Frequency of Reading labelling or packaging – Cosmetics. In response to the question “Thinking about Cosmetics, which part(s) of the labelling or packaging do you read and how frequently do you read them?”, 2502 survey respondents gave these answers-

• Dosage- every time I use it -22%; every time I buy it- 27%; about half of the time- 15%; only the first time I buy it- 22%; never-10%; don’t know-4%
• Directions on how to use the product- every time I use it -15%; every time I buy it- 28%; about half of the time- 17%; only the first time I buy it- 29%; never-9%; don’t know-3%
• Warnings about the product- every time I use it -10%; every time I buy it- 44%; about half of the time- 14%; only the first time I buy it- 21%; never-7%; don’t know-4%
• Brand or product name- every time I use it -9%; every time I buy it-31%; about half of the time- 17%; only the first time I buy it- 29%; never-10%; don’t know-4%
• Ingredients in the product- every time I use it -5%; every time I buy it- 21%; about half of the time- 18%; only the first time I buy it- 21%; never-30%; don’t know-5%
• Package insert or leaflet- every time I use it -5%; every time I buy it- 21%; about half of the time- 21%; only the first time I buy it- 31%; never-19%; don’t know-4%
• Where the product was made- every time I use it -4%; every time I buy it- 24%; about half of the time- 20%; only the first time I buy it-28%; never-20%; don’t know-5%
• Endorsements- every time I use it -3%; every time I buy it- 17%; about half of the time- 20%; only the first time I buy it- 25%; never-30%; don’t know-5%

Return to Exhibit 3.3.2.3.a: Incidence and Frequency of Reading Labelling or Packaging – Cosmetics

Exhibit 3.3.8.a: Unaided Reasons for Product Preference – Real Relief

Chart demonstrating Unaided Reasons for Product Preference - Real Relief. In response to being shown to products and asked the question “Why would you be more likely to use Real Relief”, 635 survey respondents gave these answers-

• Details/info on package-16%; Natural ingredient-15%; Relieves/covers more symptoms-15%; Sugar free-12%; Gluten free-&; Free from GMO-5%; More efficient- 5%; None/nothing-2%; Don’t know-1%; Refused- 2%

Return to Exhibit 3.3.8.a: Unaided Reasons for Product Preference – Real Relief

Exhibit 3.3.8.b: Unaided Reasons for Product Preference – Balminil

Chart demonstrating Unaided Reasons for Product Preference - Balminil. In response to being asked the question “Why would you be more likely to use Balminil”, 686 survey respondents gave these answers-

• Contains medicinal ingredients-10%; Familiar with the product- 10%; More efficient/better-8%; Well known product/good reputation-7%; Like packaging-5%; Clinically approved/tested-5%; It’s just a medication-5%; None/nothing-2%; Don’t know-3%; Refused- 2%

Return to Exhibit 3.3.8.b: Unaided Reasons for Product Preference – Balminil

Exhibit 3.3.8.c: Unaided Reasons for Product Preference – Equally Likely to Use Real Relief or Balminil

Chart demonstrating Unaided Reasons for Product Preference - Equally likely to use real relief or Balminil . In response to being asked why they would be equally likely to use Real Relief or Balminil, 1181 survey respondents gave these answers-

• Similar to each other- 26%; Not familiar with product-15%; would like to try first-13%; Do not need/use-9%; Depends on price- 7%; None/nothing-7%; Don’t know-3%; refused- 2%

Return to Exhibit 3.3.8.c: Unaided Reasons for Product Preference – Equally Likely to Use Real Relief or Balminil