PhD Candidate, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, NSW, AustraliaAssociate Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, NSW, AustraliaProfessor of Pharmacy Practice, School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Health Expect. 2014 Apr;17(2):220-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2011.00753.x. Epub 2012 Mar 6.
This study aimed to explore peoples' needs and expectations of written medicines information (WMI), and to determine the barriers and facilitators experienced or perceived in the context of WMI provision and use.
We conducted eight focus groups with 62 participants over 6 weeks in late 2008 in New South Wales, Australia. Using a semi-structured topic schedule and examples of WMI from Australia and other English-speaking countries as a guide, we explored themes relevant to WMI, including participant experiences, attitudes, beliefs and expectations.
Our findings suggest less than half had previously received WMI, with many unaware of its availability. Many, but not all, wanted WMI to supplement the spoken information they received but not to replace it, and it was predominantly used to facilitate informed choice, ascertain medicine suitability and review instructions. The current leaflets were considered technical and long, and a summary leaflet in addition to comprehensive information was favoured. Accurate side-effect information was the most important element that participants desired. The most common barriers to effective WMI use were time constraints and patient confidence, with participants citing empowerment, time and health-care professional (HCP)-patient relationships as important facilitators.
The findings provide insight and understanding of peoples needs and expectations, and clarify issues associated with use and non-use of WMI. Challenges include addressing the barriers, especially of time and HCP attitudes to drive changes to workplace practices, and learning from the facilitating factors to encourage awareness and accessibility to WMI as a tool to empower patients.
本研究旨在探讨人们对书面药品信息（WMI）的需求和期望，并确定在提供和使用 WMI 方面所经历或感知到的障碍和促进因素。
我们在 2008 年末于澳大利亚新南威尔士州进行了 8 次焦点小组讨论，共有 62 名参与者，历时 6 周。使用半结构化主题日程表和来自澳大利亚和其他英语国家的 WMI 示例作为指导，我们探讨了与 WMI 相关的主题，包括参与者的经验、态度、信念和期望。
我们的研究结果表明，不到一半的参与者之前收到过 WMI，许多人不知道它的可用性。许多人（但不是所有人）希望 WMI 能补充他们收到的口头信息，但不会取代它，WMI 主要用于促进知情选择、确定药物适用性和审查说明。目前的用药指南被认为技术性强且冗长，参与者更喜欢除全面信息外还有摘要的用药指南。准确的副作用信息是参与者最希望获得的要素。有效使用 WMI 的最常见障碍是时间限制和患者的信心，参与者提到赋权、时间和医患关系是重要的促进因素。
研究结果提供了对人们需求和期望的深入了解，并阐明了与 WMI 使用和未使用相关的问题。挑战包括解决时间和医疗保健专业人员（HCP）对改变工作场所实践的态度等障碍，并从促进因素中吸取经验，鼓励人们认识和获取 WMI，将其作为赋予患者权力的工具。
