title: The relationship between partner information-seeking, information-sharing, and patient medication adherence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe the medication information-seeking behaviors of arthritis patients' partners and explore whether partner medication information-seeking and information-sharing are associated with patient medication adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arthritis patients and their partners (n = 87 dyads) completed an on-line questionnaire. Partners indicated how often they obtained medication information from 14 sources, how much they trusted these sources, and whether they shared medication information with the patient. Patients reported their medication adherence. Bivariate associations were calculated to explore the relationships between partner information-seeking, information-sharing, and patient medication adherence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Partners sought little information about the patient's medications. Partners sought more information if the patient's medication regimen was more complex (r = 0.33, p = 0.002). Most partners (∼ 98%) shared medication information with the patient; older partners shared more information with the patient (r = 0.25, p = 0.03). Neither partner information-seeking (r = 0.21, p = 0.06) nor partner information-sharing (r = 0.12, p = 0.31) were significantly associated with patient medication adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although partners of arthritis patients do not seek large amounts of medication information, the vast majority share this information with the patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Involving partners in medical consultations can help them better understand the patient's medications, have questions answered by providers, and engage in more informed discussions with patients about their medications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina, Asheville, USA. Electronic address: dmcarpenter@unc.edu.
authors.forename: Delesha M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.affiliation: American Institutes for Research, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Elstad
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sage
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: Lorie L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Geryk
authors.affiliation: Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: DeVellis
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Blalock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
keywords: Arthritis; Information-seeking; Information-sharing; Partner