How Consumers Search for Information on Medicines Online
Author Information
Author(s): Geraldine Peterson, Parisa Aslani, Kylie A Williams, Nicola Gray, Hansen Derek Coleman Bridget
Primary Institution: The University of Sydney
Hypothesis
How do consumers search for and appraise information on medicines on the Internet?
Conclusion
Consumers have varying search and appraisal skills when looking for information on medicines online, often lacking awareness of how they evaluate this information.
Supporting Evidence
- 80% of adult Internet users have accessed it for general health information.
- 36% of Internet-using consumers have used the Internet for information on medicines.
- Participants displayed a large variation in the process of searching for information on medicines.
- Many participants reported using search engines recommended by family and friends.
- Participants expressed conflicting opinions about the credibility of sources of information.
Takeaway
People use the Internet to find medicine information, but they often don't know how to tell if what they find is good or bad.
Methodology
Six focus groups were conducted with consumers who had used the Internet for information on medicines, and discussions were analyzed using a grounded theory approach.
Potential Biases
Participants may provide socially desirable answers in group settings.
Limitations
Self-reported data may not accurately reflect actual search behaviors, and the inclusion criteria may lead to recall bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants ranged in age from 18 to 67 years, with a median age of 41 years; 57% were female.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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