title: Drug information for the community: type and source.
abstract: Patients' failure to adhere to a well-founded drug regimen is a recognised source of failure to treatment. This may be a result of a deliberate action by the patient or a misinterpretation or inadequate provision of information. By and large, live information sources tend to behave in a reactive fashion; they answer specific questions which patients ask. Similar to individualised drug dosages, information and subsequent communication need tailoring according to wide range of premises related to human beings. The present study on what type of information on drugs, people required, reports some thought provoking findings, for instance, a major fraction of people (70 pc) in the rural areas studied, did not request any information on their medication because health care providers had generally no time to discuss with their patients. Even worse others were thought to be extremely rude. Health care will continue to be inappropriate unless the care providers, at all levels, are able to understand their patients perceptions, by asking how they care about health and disease in general; whether they agree with the diagnosis and the need for the intervention recommended; and finally whether compliance with drug regimen is feasible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology Medical School, Avondale, Harare.
authors.forename: N Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Nyazema
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chavunduka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dzimwasha
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Madondo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mafana
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mbewe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004346:Drug Information Services; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000145:classification; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population