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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDDelaware journal of public health

Tackling the Lack of Literacy Regarding OTC Medications in Adolescents.

  • Anika Bhat1,2
  • Katherine Smith1,2
  1. 1Intern, Delaware Academy of Medicine and Public Health.
  2. 2Executive Director, Delaware Academy of Medicine and Public Health.
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Abstract

Objectives

To eliminate accidental over-the-counter medication misuse among Delaware adolescents by evaluating baseline drug literacy and designing a program as a health literacy intervention.Methods

A gap analysis was performed on the health literacy of Delaware teens regarding over the counter medications. A hypothetical mobile application (Project CabinetMed) was then designed for Delaware public schools and pediatric clinics. The app could be included in school initiatives, and clinical surveys about OTC use embedded into annual wellness checkups for youth aged 12 to 18.Results

Analysis shows 90% of adolescents self-medicate by age 16, yet safety test scores average only 44%, with 85% making label-reading errors and 20% of Delaware high school seniors reporting non-prescription drug use. To address this, Project CabinetMed provides dosage calculators, label decoders, and scenario games linked to local retail rewards.Conclusions

Adolescent over-the-counter medication literacy in Delaware is critically low. Linking schools, pediatric clinics, and retailers offers an effective approach to improve knowledge retention and safe self-medication practices.Policy implications

Public health agencies should mandate standardized medication safety instruction in school curricula and integrate universal literacy screening into routine pediatric wellness visits to track surveillance data and prevent pediatric poisonings statewide.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{bhat2026tackling,
  title = {{Tackling the Lack of Literacy Regarding OTC Medications in Adolescents.}},
  author = {Anika Bhat and Katherine Smith},
  journal = {Delaware journal of public health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.32481/djph.2026.10.17},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948491},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Tackling the Lack of Literacy Regarding OTC Medications in Adolescents.
AU  - Anika Bhat
AU  - Katherine Smith
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/26
JO  - Delaware journal of public health
DO  - 10.32481/djph.2026.10.17
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948491
AB  - Objectives  To eliminate accidental over-the-counter medication misuse among Delaware adolescents by evaluating baseline drug literacy and designing a program as a health literacy intervention.Methods  A gap analysis was performed on the health literacy of Delaware teens regarding over the counter medications. A hypothetical mobile application (Project CabinetMed) was then designed for Delaware public schools and pediatric clinics. The app could be included in school initiatives, and clinical surveys about OTC use embedded into annual wellness checkups for youth aged 12 to 18.Results  Analysis shows 90% of adolescents self-medicate by age 16, yet safety test scores average only 44%, with 85% making label-reading errors and 20% of Delaware high school seniors reporting non-prescription drug use. To address this, Project CabinetMed provides dosage calculators, label decoders, and scenario games linked to local retail rewards.Conclusions  Adolescent over-the-counter medication literacy in Delaware is critically low. Linking schools, pediatric clinics, and retailers offers an effective approach to improve knowledge retention and safe self-medication practices.Policy implications  Public health agencies should mandate standardized medication safety instruction in school curricula and integrate universal literacy screening into routine pediatric wellness visits to track surveillance data and prevent pediatric poisonings statewide.
SN  - 2639-6378
ER  -