ABSTRACT
Objective: Along with the increase in the number of foreign visitors to Japan, the number of inquiries in foreign languages at the time of OTC drug sales has increased. To clarify the current status of responses to foreign language inquiries when selling OTC drug, we surveyed the frequency of foreign language response, languages used, trouble experienced, and preparation useful in responding to foreign language inquiries when selling OTC drug.Methods: Our survey was conducted with 694 registered salesclerks of drugs at an external training seminar in Tokyo, Japan.Results: Of the 649 respondents, 337 (51.9%) had experience in responding to inquiries in a foreign language when selling OTC drug. The languages used were as follows: ”English,” 86.4%; ”Chinese,” 70.0%; ”Korean,” 25.8%. Of the respondents who had experience in responding to inquiries in a foreign language when selling OTC drug, 107 (31.8%) responded ”I experienced trouble because I could not understand what was being said,” and 228 (67.7%) responded ”I could not respond and experienced trouble.” When asked about preparation/tools useful for selling OTC drug, 434 (66.9%) responded ”multilingual written correspondence table,” 359 (55.3%) responded ”smartphone or tablet‐based correspondence multilingual table,” 299 (46.1%) responded ”marks and illustrations,” and 253 (39.0%) responded ”I would like to be taught how to respond in a foreign language (simple conversation).”Conclusions: Our results revealed that when selling OTC drug, response to inquiries in a foreign language occurred frequently and trouble was experienced in listening comprehension and speaking a foreign language. Therefore, urgent countermeasures such as preparing a multilingual correspondence table of symptoms, usage, and dosage, and lectures on methods of responding through simple foreign language conversations are necessary. In addition, efforts such as creation of multilingual drug package inserts by pharmaceutical companies were considered to be an effective measure.
ABSTRACT
Objective:After the start of the Foods with Function Claims system started in April 2015, the number of Foods withFunction Claims has increased every year. As such,the health food market in Japan is expanding and the health foods usedby consumers has been changing. To clarify the influence by which Foods with Function Claims has affected people’seating habits and improved their health, we surveyed people’s recognition and motivations to the Foods with FunctionClaims.Methods:Our survey was conducted with 238 consumers attending a sports club in the Tama area in western Tokyo,Japan.Results:In response to the question recognition of the word “Foods with Function Claims,”43 people(18.1%) responded“I know well,”141 people(59.2%)responded “I have heard it,but I do not know the meaning,”54 people(22.7%)responded“I do not know. I have never heard of it.” In response to the question whether to buy the Foods with Function Claims,77 people (32.4%) responded “I buy if the price is a little higher than not the Foods with Function Claims,”126 people(52.9%) responded “I buy if the price is equal to not the Foods with Function Claims.” In response to the question, 182people(76.5%)responded“I go to the hospital,”40 people(16.8%)responded“I do not go to the hospital and I use the Foodswith Function Claims.”Conclusion: Our results revealed that the recognition of Foods with Function Claims was low. However consumersrecognized that the Foods with Function Claims is worth using. Education to improve recognition for the Foods withFunction Claims is necessary.