Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Optimisation of non-prescription medicine (NPM) supply from community pharmacies could reduce demand on other healthcare providers, including general practitioners and emergency department personnel. Outcomes can be maximised if patients disclose relevant information, for example concomitant medication, during pharmacy-based consultations. Strategies to promote information disclosure are needed. This study used the psychometric paradigm of risk to explore whether the public's risk perception of NPMs was associated with information disclosure.
METHODS: This national, cross-sectional population study used a random sample of 3000 adults (aged ≥ 18 years) from the Scottish Electoral register. Postal questionnaires collected data on risk perceptions, information disclosure and demographic information. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine constructs to which the risk questions could be grouped. Factors were scored and the scores compared across demographics.
KEY FINDINGS: Just over half (57%) of the 927 respondents perceived NPMs to be associated with low general risk. For 19 of the 23 statements (83%), respondents indicated general agreement, that is low-risk perception of NPMs. Individuals with higher risk perception of NPMs were less likely to disclose information during consultations compared with respondents with lower risk perception.
CONCLUSION: There is general low public risk perception of NPMs. Individuals with higher risk perception are less likely to disclose information. Interventions that raise risk perception are unlikely to enhance the safe and effective supply of NPMs.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 423-432 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | International Journal of Pharmacy Practice |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 5 |
Early online date | 10 Jan 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2018 |
Bibliographical note
This work was supported by the Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Executive Health Department (CZH/4/376). The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and may not represent the views of the funding organisation.Keywords
- health knowledge
- self-care
- risk assessment
- non-prescription drugs
- self-medication