Information search activities among elderly prescription drug users.

A national telephone survey was conducted to compare prescription drug information seeking by younger and elderly patients. Though the elderly were less likely to receive counseling from health professionals, they were more likely to consult mass media sources. Path analyses indicated that collateral variables (such as patient's condition and pharmacy type) moderated information-seeking patterns.

A segmentational analysis of prescription drug information seeking.

Drug information-seeking proclivities were examined using data from a telephone survey of 835 individuals who had obtained new outpatient prescriptions within the previous 4 weeks. Factor analytic and clustering techniques were used to segment patients based on the source and nature of drug information received in conjunction with the prescription. A four-cluster solution appeared to represent the most stable, distinct, yet homogeneous solution for the data. The groups were named "physician reliant" (40%), "pharmacist reliant" (19%), "questioners" (7%), and "uniformed" (34%). The four groups were compared for demographic, situational, and attitudinal differences. The physician-reliant group appeared most satisfied with the direct counseling of the doctor. Although this group may have sought additional information, the information appeared to reinforce the physician's directions. The pharmacist-reliant group often obtained prescriptions at independent pharmacies and tended not to rely on magazines or reference books for additional information. The questioners were often taking multiple medications. This group tended to seek out reference information from nonprofessional sources and reported several barriers to seeking information from professionals. The uninformed group was the oldest, tended to receive little information, and was more likely than the other groups to agree that one need not ask questions if one trusts the doctor. Different types of patient education programs were recommended as appropriate for each of the four groups. Motivational messages directed to the uninformed segment appeared to be the largest unmet need in patient-oriented prescription drug education.

A survey of patient sources of prescription drug information.

A national telephone survey of 1,104 adults who had recently obtained a new prescription was undertaken to determine the nature and amount of drug information obtained. Sixty percent stated that physicians provided directions for use information with the pharmacy reported as about half as active. Only 3 to 6 per cent said they asked the physician or pharmacist for information. However, one in six respondents said they looked up the prescription in a drug reference book such as the Physicians Desk Reference.

Involving constituents in agency priority setting: a case study.

Many government agencies have "constituents" who believe the agencies should hear and consider their needs and desires in establishing program priorities. This article describes how one involves interested constituents (consumers, industry, medical professionals, and state organizations) in the agency's annual priority-setting process. This participation has produced a number of beneficial results-some expected and some unexpected.