Patients' drug-information needs: a brief view on questions asked by telephone and on the Internet.
OBJECTIVE
To compare patient characteristics and types of questions from individuals who consulted a toll-free telephone number with individuals who consulted a free information site on the Internet.


METHODS
Characteristics of all individuals and the questions they asked on both services in the month of February 2000 were analysed.


RESULTS
There were several differences between individuals who consulted both services. Individuals who asked questions through the Internet were younger and consisted of a relatively higher percentage of men than individuals who used the telephone.


CONCLUSIONS
Different services can meet the needs of different patient groups.
Bouvy
Marcel L
ML
SIR Institute for Pharmacy Practice Research, Theda Mansholtstraat 5B, 2331 JE Leiden, The Netherlands. sir@stevenshof.nl
van Berkel
Jeanne
J
de Roos-Huisman
Caroline M
CM
Meijboom
Ronald H B
RH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004346:Drug Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013689:Telephone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data