title: What do patients need to know? A study to assess patients' satisfaction with information about medicines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the information needs and reported adherence of patients prescribed medicines for chronic conditions in those who have received a community pharmacy advanced service and those who have not.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was constructed using validated tools to measure medication information satisfaction and adherence together with questions eliciting information regarding the use of pharmacy services and demographic characteristics. This questionnaire was distributed from four community pharmacies to a convenience sample of 400 patients as they collected their medicines. Patients were eligible if prescribed more than one regular medicine and attending the pharmacy for longer than 3 months. The questionnaire was returned directly to the university.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and thirty-two (58%) questionnaires were returned. All respondents desired further information about their prescribed medicines, particularly about potential medication problems. Dissatisfaction centred on side effects, interactions and certain medicine characteristics such as how long it will take to act. Satisfaction with information about medicines and adherence were significantly greater in a subgroup reporting that they had received an advanced pharmacy service, e.g. medicine use review (MUR).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who had received an advanced service reported greater adherence and satisfaction with medicine-related information. This was a small, observational study, using a convenience sample of four pharmacies; in order to draw definitive conclusions, a larger study with participants randomised to receive an advanced service is required.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Twigg
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Debi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.affiliation: Norwich Medical School, UEA, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Hattie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Whiteside
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Mahavish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaqoob
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: adherence; chronic medication; community pharmacy; lay perspectives; medicines management; patient behaviour; patient satisfaction