title: Factors associated with the need for information about medicines among pregnant women - a multinational internet-based survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women frequently experience health problems and use medicines during pregnancy, and thus need information about their medicines. Knowledge about factors associated with medicine information needs is important for pharmacists when tailoring medication counseling for these pregnant women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to investigate how socioeconomic factors, health literacy, health status, and use of medicines are associated with the need for drug information among pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional internet-based survey was posted using the Questback program (www.questback.com) on 1-4 websites commonly used by pregnant women in the participating countries within the Americas, Europe, and Australia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. Logistic regression analysis was used for multivariate analysis when measuring the association of maternal socio-demographics and health-related characteristics with the need for medicines information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A higher need for medicines information was associated with primiparity (OR 1.56, CI 1.40-1.75), age of 35+ years (OR 1.26, CI 1.03-1.54), university education (OR 1.33, CI 1.17-1.51), low health literacy (OR 1.96, CI 1.50-2.55), use of medication for chronic diseases (OR 2.67, CI 2.28-3.13), use of medication for acute illnesses (OR 1.88, CI 1.64-2.15), use of OTCs (2+ OTC medicines, OR 1.87, CI 1.60-2.20), use of herbal preparations (OR 1.57, CI 1.37-1.80), and region of residence in Eastern Europe (OR 2.36, CI 2.00-2.79) and Northern Europe (OR 1.26, CI 1.10-1.44).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The need for medicines information among pregnant women increases with the number of health problems and use of both prescription and OTC medicines as well as herbal preparations. Women with lower health literacy express a higher need for medicines information. These groups are primary targets for intensified counseling.
authors.affiliation: Assessment of Pharmacotherapies, Finnish Medicines Agency, P.O. Box 55, 00034 FIMEA, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: katri.hameen-anttila@fimea.fi.
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hämeen-Anttila
authors.affiliation: Assessment of Pharmacotherapies, Finnish Medicines Agency, P.O. Box 55, 00034 FIMEA, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kokki
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lupattelli
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway.
authors.forename: Hedvig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nordeng
authors.affiliation: Assessment of Pharmacotherapies, Finnish Medicines Agency, P.O. Box 55, 00034 FIMEA, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jyrkkä
authors.affiliation: University of Eastern Finland, School of Pharmacy, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vainio
authors.affiliation: Assessment of Pharmacotherapies, Finnish Medicines Agency, P.O. Box 55, 00034 FIMEA, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Enlund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: Internet-based survey; Medicine information; Multinational; Pregnant women