Use and Perceived Credibility of Medication Information Sources for Patients with a Rare Illness: Differences by Gender

Abstract

Patients with rare illnesses may use medication information sources that are appreciably different from those used by patients with more common illnesses. This article's purpose is to describe vasculitis patients' most frequently used medication information sources, determine which sources patients perceive as credible, and explore gender differences in source use and perceived credibility. Using an online questionnaire, patients (n = 232) indicated how often they obtained medication information from 12 sources during the previous year and rated the credibility of 6 sources. The authors used multivariate analysis of covariance and follow-up contrasts to test for gender differences in source use and conducted t tests to compare patients' perceived credibility ratings. Patients used physicians and the Internet most often to obtain medication information and rated them as the most credible sources. Male patients used their spouse/partner more often and rated them as more credible than did female patients. Female patients were more likely to use medication package inserts and the Internet and were less likely to use nurses than were male patients. There appear to be similarities and differences between the information-seeking behaviors of vasculitis patients and other patient populations. Because male patients view their spouse/partner as a credible information source, providers may want to involve the spouse/partner in prescription decision making.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Renal Epidemiology Predoctoral Traineeship at the University of North Carolina Kidney Center, the Thurston Arthritis Research Center Postdoctoral Fellowship (5T32-AR007416) and the ACR REF/Abbott Health Professional Graduate Medical Student Research Preceptorship. The authors thank the Vasculitis Foundation, its support group leaders, Vasculitis Foundation Canada, Wegener's Granulomatosis Support Group of Australia Inc., the Glomerular Disease Collaborative Network, the University of North Carolina Kidney Center (especially Ronald J. Falk, Kristen Hendrickson, and Caroline E. Jennette) and Jim Bornac for their help with recruitment. The authors also thank Chris Wiesen with the Odum Institute and Todd Schwartz for statistical assistance.

Notes

Note. On the basis of the results of independent samples t tests (p < .05), female participants were younger, more likely to be international participants, less likely to be married, less likely to have Wegener's granulomatosis, and had lived with vasculitis for fewer years than male patients.

Note. Frequency of source use responses reported on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always). None of the control variables, including age, education, race, vasculitis type, international participant status, health insurance status, time since last relapse/flare, and disease duration, was significant.

*Significant F value, p < .05.

Responses were reported on a 9-point scale ranging from 1 (not at all expert/knowledgeable) to 9 (extremely expert/knowledgeable).

*t test significant if p < .008.