Honey, M; Aspden, T; Brackley, K; Haua, R; Sheed, L; Ashmore-Price, H; Chan, AHY; (2018) Patients' internet use in New Zealand for information about medicines: Implications for policy and practice. Health Policy and Technology , 7 (2) pp. 119-124. 10.1016/j.hlpt.2018.03.003.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The ubiquitous use of the internet sees patients increasingly look online for information about their medicines. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the use of internet to meet medicine information needs of a sample of New Zealand patients. METHOD: Using a descriptive exploratory approach 60 mental health and general medical adult patients at one large urban were interviewed. These semi-structured interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and coded for inductive thematic analysis. FINDINGS: This study found that the internet is frequently used to meet the medicines information needs of patients. Despite the ease of access to information on the internet patients need guidance to locate credible and trustworthy online resources. CONCLUSIONS: Implications from this study relate to both practice and policy, and include the need for health professionals to have enhanced communication skills as they become information brokers who provide supplementary, reliable sources of patient-centric medicines information. Having a New Zealand specific website that includes an extensive section on medicines is a policy recommendation of this study, as is identifying tools to readily identify patients’ needs and preferences for medicines information.

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