It used a controlled design, with participants allocated at random to receive one of the three formats. Participants were recruited via a pop-up window on the CancerHelp UK website. The sample comprised 129 website users, of whom 96% were women and 86% had cancer, who received frequency information on four side effects of tamoxifen, using one of three risk expressions (percentages, e.g. ‘affects 25% of people’; frequencies, e.g. ‘affects 1 in 4 people’; combined, e.g. ‘affects 1 in 4 people (25%)’). They then interpreted information on tamoxifen and its effect on health, and estimates of side-effect frequency, and then stated a preference from the three risk expression formats. The results showed that the three formats did not

influence participants’ ratings of the information or their side-effect estimates. However, more than www.selleckchem.com/products/Bleomycin-sulfate.html half (53%) the participants preferred the combined (frequency and percentage) format. In conclusion, a combined risk expression format performed no worse than percentages or frequencies alone and was preferred by a majority. The three risk expression formats did not differ in their effect on participants’ interpretations. However, the preferred format was the combined (frequency and percentage) risk expression. “
“To give an overview of the views of different types of reporters (patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs)) and assessors check details of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) on what they consider

important information regarding an ADR report. A semi-structured interview was conducted among reporters and assessors of ADRs in the Netherlands. All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used

pentoxifylline on the data. All transcripts were coded individually by two researchers. A list was drafted of all elements of information mentioned during the interviews. In total 16 interviews were conducted. Elements of information that were explicitly brought up during the interviews were the impact of the ADR on the patient’s daily life and information regarding causality. Furthermore, the correctness of reported information was found important by assessors of ADRs. Generally, patient reporting was seen as a very positive development for pharmacovigilance. Patients reported that the severity of ADRs and their impact on daily life were important subjects. In the interviews with HCPs, either reporters or assessors, the focus was mainly on causality. The correctness of the given information is considered by ADR assessors to be very important. Regarding patient reporting the overall view was positive. Because HCPs and patients have different views regarding ADR reporting, in daily practice it is important to receive reports from both groups to assess the true nature of the ADR. “
“Objectives It is the overall aim of this study to validate an existing scale to measure patients’ desire for information about their medicines in the geographically and culturally disparate context of the USA.