Table 2 Characteristics of 100 visits with prescription of cold combination products among 46 older ambulatory patients during the 1-year follow-up

Specialty of prescribers, n (%)

 Internal medicine

93 (93.0)

 Otolaryngology

4 (4.0)

 Surgery

3 (3.0)

Medical record documentation^a, n (%)

 History taking

39 (39.0)

 Physical examination

26 (26.0)

Prescription of cold combination products, n (%)

 Duration (days), mean ± SD

8.8 ± 8.5

 Simultaneous use of other drugs

  Any use

42 (42.0)

  Antibiotics

6 (6.0)

  Antitussives

21 (21.0)

  Expectorants

9 (9.0)

  Exogenous enzymes

7 (7.0)

  Acetaminophen

2 (2.0)

  Japanese Kampo medicines

14 (14.0)