Patients ‘not fully informed about medicines’
A survey commissioned by the Irish Patients Association (IPA) found 61% of doctors believe the average length of a consultation is not enough time to fully explain the details about the medicines.
In addition, two-thirds of doctors were concerned in-pack leaflets which accompany prescription medicines are the only piece of written information available to patients.
Almost 45% said patients should seek further information on the internet or from their pharmacist.
More positive findings of the survey, carried out by independent market research company MORI, found 96% of doctors believe patients are more informed about health issues than they were five years ago and nine out of 10 agree that when patients are well-informed, they have a better consultation with them. However, more than half think patients should have even more access to information about their medicines.
Approximately one-quarter of doctors said they would recommend that patients seek information from the pharmaceutical company which developed the medication. Some 90% of GPs surveyed believe that pharmaceutical companies have a role to play in providing accurate and balanced information to patients taking their medication. Commenting on the results of the research, IPA chairman Stephen McMahon said: “The bottom line is that accurate and balanced information which is easily accessible from a variety of reliable sources benefits patients.
“Patients need to be empowered to make informed decisions about their health. An understanding of their medicines may lead patients to better adherence to treatment regimens, such as taking the right dose at the right time and knowing about possible side effects.”
Consumer research recently carried out by the IPA showed eight-in-10 people said they thought it would be a good idea for more information on prescription medicines to be available to them.
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