Research Methodology: The pharmacists analyzed existing studies and conducted their own experiments to test the efficacy of phenylephrine. Their findings indicated that the drug did not perform better than a placebo.

Impact on Consumer Health: The ineffectiveness of these decongestants means that consumers are potentially wasting money and not receiving relief from symptoms, leading to prolonged discomfort and possible misuse of alternative remedies.

Regulatory Implications: Given these findings, there may be a call for regulatory bodies like the FDA to reconsider the approval and marketing of phenylephrine as an effective decongestant.