Consumer needs for medicines information: a role for Cochrane?

Tags: Oral
Newby D, Barker B, Hill S, Drew A, Henry D

Introduction/Objective: Activities such as the Phone-in day held as part of National Medicines Week in Australia suggested that there is an unmet need for Consumer Drug Information Services (CDIS) in Australia. However, it is recognised that a single event such as this cannot reflect the true demand for CDIS. Our study aimed to determine the information seeking behaviour of medicine users in the Australian community and to identify the need for CDIS. In particular, we were interested in identifying deficiencies in current information sources for consumers.

Methods: The first phase was a computer-assisted telephone survey with a random sample of the community. The second phase was a series of in-depth interviews with a sample of the participants from the telephone survey. In addition, interviews and focus groups were conducted with a sample of people who are potentially 'at risk' of poor use of medicines, and who were likely to be under represented in the telephone survey.

Results: 1) Telephone survey: A total of 786 participants completed the survey. Fifty-one percent (51%) of medicine users had asked a question about a medicine in the last six months and 93% were satisfied with the information they received. A further 6.4% would have liked to have asked a question but did not. Most questions related to prescription medicines, and doctors and pharmacists were the most common source of information. The most frequent requests for medicines information related to adverse effects. 2) Interviews and focus groups: Analysis of the interview dialogues suggested most questions asked relate to the management of a medicine once a doctor had prescribed it, such as potential adverse effects. A number of questions, however, related to treatment choices. Participants perceived several factors that enable them to ask questions, including approachability, ease of access, trust and the knowledge base of the source. Barriers reported included physical barriers such as remote location, and perceived barriers, such as the source being too 'busy' or not interested in providing information, particularly on treatment choices.

Discussion: Our results suggest current sources of medicines information provide adequate information regarding the management of medicines. Approximately 10% of medicine takers, however, are either dissatisfied with the information they receive or would like more information about their medicines, but do not receive it. Our results suggest that there is a lack of information for consumers to assist in comparing treatment options. The Cochrane Collaboration may play a role in providing information on relative benefits and risks for treatment options, in lay language for consumers. This information, however, would need to have a 'condition' rather than 'treatment' focus to assist consumers in making decisions about a range of treatment options for particular conditions.