Paracetamol Pop-Up

NèreS|France |November - December 2023
Health Literacy & Disease Prevention
Pain management & counselling
Healthcare Professional Engagement
Published on
Modified on

Launched in November 2023, the Paracetamol Pop-Up campaign aimed to strengthen the role of pharmacists in promoting the responsible use of paracetamol-containing medicines. Integrated directly into pharmacy software, the pop-up provides real-time reminders to pharmacists at the point of dispensing, ensuring that patients consistently receive accurate, safety-based guidance about dosage, indications, and precautions when using paracetamol.

Objectives

  • Reinforce the pharmacist’s counselling role during the dispensing of paracetamol.
  • Standardise patient advice based on messaging validated by the national medicines agency (ANSM).
  • Improve public awareness of safe paracetamol use.

Target Audience

  • Pharmacists and pharmacy assistants across France
  • Indirectly, patients purchasing or receiving paracetamol products

Key Activities and Approach

  • Integration of automated pop-up alerts into pharmacy software across 8,000 pharmacies
  • Each pop-up prompted pharmacists to provide clear, ANSM-approved information to patients
  • Campaign developed with the support of USPO and FSPF, two key pharmacist organisations, and validated by the French Medicines Agency (ANSM)
  • The campaign was promoted via trusted pharmacist platforms, including VIDAL and Pharmaradio

Impact and Result

  • Broad reach across 8,000 pharmacies in France
  • With 867,000 displays, the pop-up achieved significant visibility.
  • Patients now receive more systematic and accurate advice when being dispensed paracetamol
  • Strengthened collaboration between professional bodies and public authorities

Insights and Takeaways for Others

  • Integrating health messages into digital dispensing systems ensures frontline implementation without adding burden
  • Partnerships with pharmacist organisations enhance legitimacy and uptake
  • Real-time interventions are powerful tools for improving medicine use and public safety
  • Even brief reminders, when embedded in workflows, can create lasting behaviour change at scale

Additional Resources and Contact