title: Information and communication on risks related to medications and proper use of medications for healthcare professionals and the general public: precautionary principle, risk management, communication during and in the absence of crisis situations.
abstract: Recent drug crises have highlighted the complexity, benefits and risks of medication communication. The difficulty of this communication is due to the diversity of the sources of information and the target audience, the credibility of spokespersons, the difficulty to communicate on scientific uncertainties and the precautionary principle, which is influenced by variable perceptions and tolerances of the risk. Globally, there is a lack of training in risk management with a tendency of modern society to refuse even the slightest risk. Communication on medications is subject to regulatory or legal requirements, often uses tools and messages that are not adapted to the target audience and is often based on a poor knowledge of communication techniques. In order to improve this situation, the available information must be coordinated by reinforcing the unique medication information website and by coordinating communication between authorities by means of a single spokesperson. A particular effort must be made in the field of training in the proper use and risk of medications for both the general population and patients but also for healthcare professionals, by setting up a unified academic on-line teaching platform for continuing medical education on medications and their proper use.
authors.affiliation: CHU et Université de Bordeaux, Département de pharmacologie, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molimard
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire AstraZeneca France, Direction médicaleRueil-Malmaison, France.
authors.forename: Corine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernaud
authors.affiliation: AP-HP, Département de la recherche clinique et du développement, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lechat
authors.affiliation: CHU de Tours, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bejan-Angoulvant
authors.affiliation: Sunivion Pharmaceuticals, MarlboroughMA, USA.
authors.forename: Cherif
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benattia
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Sanofi Aventis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benkritly
authors.affiliation: CIC, CPCET, CHU Timone, AP-HM, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Braunstein
authors.affiliation: Le Monde, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cabut
authors.affiliation: Direction générale de la santé, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fourrier-Réglat
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Bristol Myers Squibb, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gallet
authors.affiliation: MGersberg Conseil, Chatou, France.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gersberg
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Lundbeck, Issy les Moulineaux, France.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goni
authors.affiliation: CHU, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jolliet
authors.affiliation: SFPT, Croissy sur Seine, France.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lamarque-Garnier
authors.affiliation: Hotel Dieu, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Jeunne
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Norgine, Rueil Malmaison, France.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leurs
authors.affiliation: Cabinet médical, Saint Epain, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liard
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Janssen Cilag, Issy les Moulineaux, France.
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malbezin
authors.affiliation: CIC, CPCET, CHU Timone, AP-HM, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Joelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Micallef
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Saint Louis, AP-HP, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nguon
mesh_terms: D003144:Communication Barriers; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004346:Drug Information Services; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006266:Health Education; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing / Q000517:prevention & control; D033181:Information Dissemination; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D012308:Risk Management; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D014342:Truth Disclosure