Impact of patient information leaflets on pain medication intake behavior: a pilot study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impact of patient information leaflets on pain medication intake behavior: a pilot study

AU - Schmitz, Julia

AU - Kamping, Sandra

AU - Wiegratz, Janine

AU - Müller, Maike

AU - Stork, Jan

AU - Colloca, Luana

AU - Flor, Herta

AU - Klinger, Regine

PY - 2017/11

Y1 - 2017/11

N2 - Introduction: Patient information leaflets on pain medication primarily list side effects while positive effects and action mechanisms remain underrepresented. Nocebo research has shown that negative instructions can lower analgesic effects.Objectives: Research on information leaflets and their influence on mood, memory of side effects, and intake behavior of healthy participants is needed.Methods: To determine the ratio of positive to negative phrases, 18 information leaflets of common, over-the-market analgesics were examined of which 1 was selected. In a randomized, controlled study design, 18 healthy participants read this leaflet while 18 control group participants read a matched, neutral leaflet of an electrical device. Collected data concerned the recall of positive and negative contents, mood, anxiety, and the willingness to buy and take the drug.Results: All examined leaflets listed significantly more side effects than positive effects (t17 = 5.82, P < 0.01). After reading the analgesic leaflet, participants showed a trend towards more negative mood (F1,34 = 3.78, P = 0.06, ηp2 = 0.1), a lower intention to buy [χ2 (1, n = 36) = 12.5, P < 0.01], a higher unwillingness to take the medication [χ2 (1, n = 36) = 7.2, P < 0.01], and even a greater recall for side effects than positive effects (t17 = 7.47, P < 0.01).Conclusion: Reading the patient information leaflets can increase fear and lower the intention to buy and the willingness to take a pain medication.

AB - Introduction: Patient information leaflets on pain medication primarily list side effects while positive effects and action mechanisms remain underrepresented. Nocebo research has shown that negative instructions can lower analgesic effects.Objectives: Research on information leaflets and their influence on mood, memory of side effects, and intake behavior of healthy participants is needed.Methods: To determine the ratio of positive to negative phrases, 18 information leaflets of common, over-the-market analgesics were examined of which 1 was selected. In a randomized, controlled study design, 18 healthy participants read this leaflet while 18 control group participants read a matched, neutral leaflet of an electrical device. Collected data concerned the recall of positive and negative contents, mood, anxiety, and the willingness to buy and take the drug.Results: All examined leaflets listed significantly more side effects than positive effects (t17 = 5.82, P < 0.01). After reading the analgesic leaflet, participants showed a trend towards more negative mood (F1,34 = 3.78, P = 0.06, ηp2 = 0.1), a lower intention to buy [χ2 (1, n = 36) = 12.5, P < 0.01], a higher unwillingness to take the medication [χ2 (1, n = 36) = 7.2, P < 0.01], and even a greater recall for side effects than positive effects (t17 = 7.47, P < 0.01).Conclusion: Reading the patient information leaflets can increase fear and lower the intention to buy and the willingness to take a pain medication.

U2 - 10.1097/PR9.0000000000000620

DO - 10.1097/PR9.0000000000000620

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 29392236

VL - 2

SP - e620

JO - Pain Rep

JF - Pain Rep

SN - 2471-2531

IS - 6

ER -