title: Effect of Communication Style on Perceptions of Medication Side Effect Risk among Pharmacy Students.
abstract: Objective.To assess the effect of communication style, and frequency and severity of medication side-effects, on pharmacy students' perception of risk of experiencing side effects.Methods.One hundred responses from pharmacy students were obtained using an online survey. Participants were presented with a drug information box containing drug name, drug usage, and one side-effect associated with the drug. Information on side-effect for each drug was presented in one of eight experimental conditions, in a 2 (side-effect frequency: low, high), X2 (side-effect severity: mild, severe) X2 (communication style: verbal, verbal + natural frequency) factorial design. Risk perception of experiencing side effects was measured.Results.Communication style was found to have a significant impact on risk perception depending on the context of frequency and severity associated with the side effect.Conclusion.Communication style plays a significant role in formulating risk perceptions of medication side effects. Training in pharmaceutical counseling should include special emphasis on effective language use.
authors.affiliation: University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Ruta V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Sawant
authors.affiliation: University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Collin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Beatty
authors.affiliation: University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Sujit S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sansgiry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Risk communication; medication side-effects risk; pharmacy students; risk perception; verbal and numeric risk