title: Medicines information needs during pregnancy: a multinational comparison.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to assess the perceived needs of medicines information and information sources for pregnant women in various countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional internet-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multinational.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women and women with children less than 25 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The need for information about medicines was assessed by a question: 'Did you need information about medicines during the course of your pregnancy?' A list of commonly used sources of information was given to explore those that are used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether, 7092 eligible women responded to the survey (5090 pregnant women and 2002 women with a child less than 25 weeks). Of the respondents, 57% (n=4054, range between different countries 46-77%) indicated a need for information about medicines during their pregnancy. On average, respondents used three different information sources. The most commonly used information sources were healthcare professionals-physicians (73%), pharmacy personnel (46%) and midwifes or nurses (33%)-and the internet (60%). There were distinct differences in the information needs and information sources used in different countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large proportion of pregnant women have perceived information needs about medicines during pregnancy, and they rely on healthcare professionals. The internet is also a widely used information source. Further studies are needed to evaluate the use of the internet as a medicines information source by pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Medicines Agency, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hämeen-Anttila
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jyrkkä
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Enlund
authors.forename: Hedvig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nordeng
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lupattelli
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kokki