For years, Pharmacy Practice + Business and The Medical Post have been asking our extensive audience of pharmacists and physicians to participate in our annual Survey on OTC Counselling & Recommendations. It is the only national survey to research the role of Canadian pharmacists and physicians as counsellors, advisors and influencers in the area of nonprescription products. In this survey, pharmacists and physicians tell us what brands they personally recommend in a number of popular product categories. Here are the results for 2021.
PHARMACISTS
PHYSICIANS
The 2021 Survey on OTC Counselling & Recommendations was an online survey fielded between October 2020 and January 2021 by the research division of EnsembleIQ. A total of 1,812 Canadian pharmacists responded to the survey for a margin of error of ±2.23%, 19 times out of 20. In total, 45 product categories were presented to the overall sample of pharmacists. To establish the OTC brand rankings, respondents were asked two open-ended questions: How often do you make recommendations on this product category? and What brand(s) do you usually recommend? Responses for store brands, prescription drugs, products not belonging in a category and generic suggestions (e.g., Vitamin C, acetaminophen, etc.) were removed from the coding. The resulting lists for each product category were then ranked by the number of recommendations, resulting in a winner for the category.
PHARMACIST SURVEY METHODOLOGY
Only the OTC products voted #1 most-recommended brands by pharmacists in the Pharmacy Practice + Business Survey on OTC Counselling & Recommendations may use this logo or claim to be “Pharmacists’ most recommended brand.”
About the #1 OTC brand logo
Have you seen this logo? Only the OTC products voted #1 by physicians, in The Medical Post’s annual survey, can use this logo or claim to be “Physicians' #1 Recommended Brand.”
The 2021 Medical Post Survey on OTC Counselling & Recommendations was an online survey fielded between October 2020 and January 2021 by the research division of EnsembleIQ. A total of 657 Canadian physicians responded to the survey for a margin for error of ± 3.8%, 19 times out of 20. All respondents completed the counselling questions of the survey. To establish the OTC brand rankings, respondents were asked two open-ended questions: How often do you make recommendations on this product category? and What brand(s) do you usually recommend? Responses for store brands, prescription drugs, products not belonging in a category and generic suggestions (e.g., Vitamin C, acetaminophen, etc.) were removed from the coding. The resulting lists for each product category were then ranked by the number of recommendations, resulting in a winner for the category.
PHYSICIAN SURVEY METHODOLOGY
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
© 2021 EnsembleIQ. All rights reserved.
CLICK
MOST- RECOMMENDED BRANDS 2021
HOME
OTC CATEGORIES
FRENCH
ENGLISH
OTC
Acne Treatment
Antibiotic Eye and Ear Drops
Antinauseant
Blood Glucose Monitor
Blood Pressure Monitor
Cold Sore Remedy
Condoms
Emergency Contraceptive
Diaper Rash Treatment
Dry Eye Drops
Heat Analgesic (patch/wrap/rub)
Intravaginal Antifungals
Hemorrhoid Treatment
Iron Supplement
Lice Treatment
Laxative
Lip Care
Moisturizer/Dry Skin Product
Nail Fungus Treatment
Natural Cold Remedy
Pregnancy Test Kit
Probiotic
Sunscreen
Topical Anti-Infective
Vaginal Lubricant
> Click to read the May digital edition of Pharmacy Practice + Business
> Click to read the June digital edition of The Medical Post
< PREVIOUS
CLICK TO CHOOSE
PHARMACISTS RECOMMEND
Source: Pharmacy Practice + Business 2021 Survey on OTC Counselling and Recommendations. (N=1,812).
AVERAGE RECOMMENDATIONS / MONTH
3
Responses less than 4% not shown; n=1,161; 64% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Benzac
Neutrogena
Cetaphil
Spectro (NET)
Benzagel
Clean & Clear/persa-gel
NEXT >
Antibiotic Eye & Ear Drops
5
Responses less than 1% not shown; n=1,617; 89% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Optimyxin
Sterisporin
Polysporin
PHYSICIANS RECOMMEND
Source: The Medical Post 2021 Survey on OTC Counselling and Recommendations. (N=657).
6
Responses less than 1% not shown; n=313; 48% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Neosporin
Ocuflox
Responses less than 1% not shown; n=1,684; 93% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Gravol
Responses less than 1% not shown; n=452; 69% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Pepto-Bismol
Responses less than 14% not shown; n=1,471; 81% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Contour Next (NET)
FreeStyle
Accu-chek
OneTouch
Responses less than 1% not shown; n=303; 46% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Lifesource
Bios
Omron
Welch
4
Responses less than 1% not shown; n=1,499; 83% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Abreva
Zilactin
Oragel
Lipactin
Responses less than 1% not shown; n=252; 14% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Trojan
Magnum
Lifestyle/Skyn (NET)
Durex
One
Ramses
Responses less than 5% not shown; n=1,317; 73% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Zincofax
Canesten
Sudocrem
Penaten
Desitin
Ihle's Paste
7
Responses less than 2% not shown; n=1,721; 95% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Systane
Tears Naturale
hydraSense
Refresh/Optive
HYLO
Genteal
Responses less than 3% not shown; n=1,460; 81% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Plan B
Backup Plan Onestep
Ella
Contingency One
Next Choice
2
Responses less than 2% not shown; n=152; 23% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Responses less than 5% not shown; n=947; 52% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Rub A535/Antiphlogistine
Robax
Salonpas
Voltaren
Icy Hot
Thermacare
Responses less than 2% not shown; n=1,527; 84% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Anusol
Hemovel
Venixxa
Preparation H
Tucks
Responses less than 2% not shown; n=369; 56% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Anugesic
Hemcort
Responses less than 17% not shown; n=388; 59% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Monistat
Responses less than 3% not shown; n=1,187; 66% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
FeraMAX
Palafer
Euro-Fer
Proferrin
Jamieson
Wampole
Responses less than 3% not shown; n=369; 56% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Fer-in-sol
Opti-fer
8
Responses less than 5% not shown; n=1,729; 95% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Lax-A-Day
Senokot
RestoraLAX
Dulcolax
Metamucil
10
Responses less than 7% not shown; n=512; 78% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Colace
Peg 3350
Responses less than 1% not shown; n=1,470; 81% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Nyda
Nix
Resultz
Kwellada
R&C
Responses less than 6% not shown; n=1,132; 62% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Blistex
La Roche-Posay
Vaseline
Nivea
Eucerin
Responses less than 10% not shown; n=1,641; 91% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
CeraVe
Aveeno
Glaxal Base
Cutibase
Responses less than 4% not shown; n=731; 40% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Emtrix
FungiCure
Fungi-Nail
Responses less than 4% not shown; n=667; 37% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Helixia Prospan
Cold-FX
GeloMyrtol
Boiron
Sambucol
Responses less than 1% not shown; n=797; 44% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
First/Premiere Response
Clearblue
First Choice
Responses less than 5% not shown; n=1,479; 82% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Bio-K+
Align
Probaclac
Florastor
Webber
Responses less than 4% not shown; n=303; 46% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
BioGala
Culturelle
Responses less than 5% not shown; n=1,088; 60% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Ombrelle
La Roche-Posay/Anthelios (NET)
Coppertone
Banana Boat
11
Responses less than 4% not shown; n=256; 39% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Vichy
Responses less than 1% not shown; n=1,572; 87% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Bactroban
Bacitracin
Micatin
Responses less than 1% not shown; n=404; 61% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Baciguent
Bactigras
Responses less than 2% not shown; n=289; 44% recommend in category. Results may total > 100% due to multiple brand recommendations. BASE: Make at least 1 recommendation/month.
Replens
K-Y
Astroglide
RepaGyn
Gynatrof
Vagisil
