Dataset Information

Medicines information needs during pregnancy: a multinational comparison.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The aim was to assess the perceived needs of medicines information and information sources for pregnant women in various countries.

Design

Cross-sectional internet-based study.

Setting

Multinational.

Participants

Pregnant women and women with children less than 25 weeks.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The need for information about medicines was assessed by a question: 'Did you need information about medicines during the course of your pregnancy?' A list of commonly used sources of information was given to explore those that are used.

Results

Altogether, 7092 eligible women responded to the survey (5090 pregnant women and 2002 women with a child less than 25 weeks). Of the respondents, 57% (n=4054, range between different countries 46-77%) indicated a need for information about medicines during their pregnancy. On average, respondents used three different information sources. The most commonly used information sources were healthcare professionals-physicians (73%), pharmacy personnel (46%) and midwifes or nurses (33%)-and the internet (60%). There were distinct differences in the information needs and information sources used in different countries.

Conclusions

A large proportion of pregnant women have perceived information needs about medicines during pregnancy, and they rely on healthcare professionals. The internet is also a widely used information source. Further studies are needed to evaluate the use of the internet as a medicines information source by pregnant women.

SUBMITTER: Hameen-Anttila K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3641472 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Medicines information needs during pregnancy: a multinational comparison.

Hämeen-Anttila Katri K Jyrkkä Johanna J Enlund Hannes H Nordeng Hedvig H Lupattelli Angela A Kokki Esa E

BMJ open 20130426 4

<h4>Objectives</h4>The aim was to assess the perceived needs of medicines information and information sources for pregnant women in various countries.<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional internet-based study.<h4>Setting</h4>Multinational.<h4>Participants</h4>Pregnant women and women with children less than 25 weeks.<h4>Primary and secondary outcome measures</h4>The need for information about medicines was assessed by a question: 'Did you need information about medicines during the course of your pregn ...[more]

PMID: 23624989

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Project description:BackgroundMedicines are central to healthcare in aging populations with chronic multi-morbidity. Their safe and effective use relies on a large and constantly increasing knowledge base. Despite the current era of unprecedented access to information, there is evidence that unmet information needs remain an issue in clinical practice. Unmet medicines information needs may contribute to sub-optimal use of medicines and patient harm. Little is known about medicines information needs in the primary care setting. The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of medicines information needs in routine general practice and understand the challenges and influences on the information-seeking behaviour of general practitioners.MethodsA mixed methods study involving 18 New Zealand general practitioner participants was undertaken. Quantitative data were collected to characterize the medicines information needs arising during 642 consultations conducted by the participants. Qualitative data regarding participant views on their medicines information needs, resources used, challenges to meeting the needs and potential solutions were collected by semi-structured interview. Integration occurred by comparison of results from each method.ResultsOf 642 consultations, 11% (n = 73/642) featured at least one medicines information need. The needs spanned 14 different categories with dosing the most frequent (26%) followed by side effects (15%) and drug interactions (14%). Two main themes describing the nature of general practitioners' medicines information needs were identified from the qualitative data: a 'common core' related to medicine dose, side effects and interactions and a 'perplexing periphery'. Challenges in the perplexing periphery were the variation in information needs, complexity, 'known unknowns' and 'unknown unknowns'. Key factors affecting general practitioners' strategies for meeting medicines information needs were trust in a resource, presence of the patient, how the information was presented, scarcity of time, awareness of the existence of a resource, and its accessibility.ConclusionsGeneral practitioners face challenges in meeting wide-ranging medicines information needs in patients with increasingly complex care needs. Recognising the challenges and factors that influence resource use in practice can inform optimisation of medicines information support resources. Resources for general practitioners must take into account the complexity and time constraints of real-world practice. An individually responsive approach involving greater collaboration with pharmacists and specialist medicines information support services may provide a potential solution.

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Dataset Information

Medicines information needs during pregnancy: a multinational comparison.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Medicines information needs during pregnancy: a multinational comparison.

Similar Datasets

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