title: How and why do people with depression access and utilize online drug information: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People with depression commonly use the Internet to access antidepressant information, but the quality of this information is highly variable. The objective of this study was to assess how and why people use the Internet to access antidepressant information, and the self-reported impact of information obtained online.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six focus groups were conducted with a cross-section of Internet users (n=29) with depression. Focus group transcripts were thematically content analyzed using a constant comparison approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reasons cited for seeking online information included to obtain a second opinion, to verify information provided in the Package Information Leaflet, to prepare to visit to a physician, and to learn about peer experiences. The Internet was used to complement rather than replace information provided by health professionals. The self-reported impacts of utilizing online drug information included increased autonomy, improved knowledge, being reassured, deciding to change a dose, to discontinue a drug and to suggest a new drug to a physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional quantitative research and a random sampling technique would be required to obtain generalizable results and to assess the relative importance of the various reasons cited by the focus group participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Internet was perceived as an important source of additional drug information, particularly when fear of stigmatization or depression related symptoms limited information seeking from other sources. Health professionals should design online services and direct their clients to accurate and reliable sources of online drug information.
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Helsinki, Finland. marika.pohjanoksa@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pohjanoksa-Mäntylä
authors.forename: Johanna K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Saari
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Närhi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karjalainen
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pylkkänen
authors.forename: Marja S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Airaksinen
authors.forename: J Simon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004346:Drug Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents