Young, S. D., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2006). Different methods of presenting risk information and their influence on medication compliance intentions: Results of three studies. Clinical Therapeutics, 28(1), 129-139.
Young, S.;Oppenheimer, D.
2006
Young, S. D., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2006). Different methods of presenting risk information and their influence on medication compliance intentions: Results of three studies. Clinical Therapeutics, 28(1), 129-139.
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The aims of the 3 studies described in this article were to investigate whether commonly used methods of conveying AE risk might influence subjects' perceptions of their risk of experiencing drug-related AEs and whether disclosing this information by other means might subsequently influence their intentions to comply with prescribed medication regimens. In study 1, randomly selected participants were surveyed to estimate their percentage risk for medication AEs. In study 2, randomly selected participants were presented with a fictitious medical scenario, informed of their AE risk either in terms of specific percentages or in general semantic terms (eg, "some people may experience"), and then asked to rate their fear of AEs and likelihood of compliance. Study 3 was a randomized, controlled experiment in which we duplicated the methods of study 2, with the addition of real-life stimuli (pharmaceutical advertisements). In these studies, informing participantsof actual percentage risk of AEs was associated with less fear about AEs and greater intent to comply with prescribed regimens. Using verbal descriptors to disclose AE risk information was associated with less intent to comply.
In study 1, we found that the semantic methods of disclosure do indeed inform consumers that they may experience AEs but do not provide any indication of who will experience AEs, or how likely these AEs are to occur. As a result, people appeared to believe that AEs were quite likely to occur. Participants thought there was more than 20% chance of AEs, when in fact, less than 5% of people appear to experience AEs.
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