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Senior and Health-Professionals' Perceptions and Communication about Prescriptions and Alternative Therapies*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Muriel J. Montbriand
Muriel J. Montbriand
Affiliation:
University of Saskatchewan
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Abstract

Patients and professionals have difficulty communicating with one another about prescriptions and alternative therapies. The aim of this research was to investigate and contrast 714 seniors and health-professionals' perceptions and communication about the above mentioned health products. First, intensive face-to-face, ethnographic interviews with health professionals and seniors were conducted to elicit relevant issues of concern. Second, focus groups were used to evaluate the issues and wording of question probes developed initially. Third, a survey established associations and predictive validity of variables found in the first two phases. Highlights from the emergent themes include different perceptions of (a) the value and usage of alternative therapies, (b) information adequacy about prescriptions and alternative therapies, and (c) communication about prescription misuses and alternative therapy use. Seniors and professionals suggested insights for improving clinical practice.

Résumé

Les patients et les professionnels éprouvent de la difficulté à communiquer entre eux en ce qui concerne les ordonnances et les médecines parallèles. Cette recherche visait à étudier et à rapprocher les perceptions et les échanges de 714 aîné(e)s et professionnels de la santé sur ces produits de santé. D'abord, on a effectué des entretiens personnels et ethnographiques avec des professionnels de la santé et des aîné(e)s pour déceler les questions de préoccupation pertinentes. Ensuite, on a utilisé des groupes de discussion pour évaluer les questions et la formulation des éléments initialement développées. Troisièmement, une étude a permis d'établir des associations et la validité prédictive des variables des deux premières étapes. Parmi les grandes lignes des thèmes, on note des perceptions différentes sur (a) la valeur et l'utilisation des médecines parallèles, (b) la précision de l'information sur les ordonnances et les médecines parallèles et (c) la communication sur la mauvaise utilisation des ordonnances et l'utilisation des médecines parallèles. Les aîné(e)set les professionnels ont présenté des recommandations d'amélioration de la pratique clinique.

Keywords

MedicationsAlternate TherapiesHealth-ProfessionalsPerceptionsCommunicationMédicamentsmédecines parallélesprofessionels de la santéperceptionscommunication
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , Spring/Printemps 2000 , pp. 35 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2000

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