The information offered to patients, primarily by doctors, is inadequate and the result is insufficient dialogue between doctors and patients on drugs and possible side effects. Not only that, there is also little information provided by doctors on the cost of treatment. The effect thus is that patients have low confidence in therapy and resort to a dangerous do-it-yourself. In summary, this is what emerges from the survey on the use of medicines and the doctor-patient relationship that Altrconsumo, an independent association of consumers, conducted on 2265 Italians, a representative sample of the adult population of our country. The investigation is part of a survey involving more than 10,100 European citizens, conducted by independent consumer associations in Europe, which will be published in June's Salutest. But what were the results?
In Italy, three quarters of those interviewed report having had their most recent medical visits to the National Health Service, more often for a specific health problem. A quarter of the sample visits for a general check-up, the 17% to have the prescription of medicines renewed. Half of the sample left the doctor's consultation with a prescription, on average with the prescription of two drugs. 11% reports having received a prescription for 4 or more medications. 54% of all the interviewees declare that they have not received any information on the cost of the treatment. Prescription drug 90% is brand name. The 39% reports that the doctor did not discuss the possible side effects of the prescribed drug. Serious gaps in the dialogue that have repercussions on the knowledge of medicines, given that the 80% of the sample declares that he considers the family doctor as the main source of information, compared to approximately the 40% who declares that he also addresses the pharmacist. Unfortunately, the doctor's instructions are not scrupulously observed by everyone. The 7% patients who had a prescription did not buy the drug. For about a third of these, because he already had it at home. For others, because the drug was too expensive. However, 17% of the interviewees judges the price of medicines too high. Furthermore, the 10% is dissatisfied with the contents of the package of the prescribed drug, excessive in quantity with respect to the treatment needs. Altroconsumo draws attention to this given that the waste of medicines is a useless cost for individual citizens and for the system as a whole, but also to the detriment of the environment; 26% of the interviewees stated that they throw out expired medicines in the rubbish bin and 19% that they throw them down the toilet drain.
In Italy, three quarters of those interviewed report having had their most recent medical visits to the National Health Service, more often for a specific health problem. A quarter of the sample visits for a general check-up, the 17% to have the prescription of medicines renewed. Half of the sample left the doctor's consultation with a prescription, on average with the prescription of two drugs. 11% reports having received a prescription for 4 or more medications. 54% of all the interviewees declare that they have not received any information on the cost of the treatment. Prescription drug 90% is brand name. The 39% reports that the doctor did not discuss the possible side effects of the prescribed drug. Serious gaps in the dialogue that have repercussions on the knowledge of medicines, given that the 80% of the sample declares that he considers the family doctor as the main source of information, compared to approximately the 40% who declares that he also addresses the pharmacist. Unfortunately, the doctor's instructions are not scrupulously observed by everyone. The 7% patients who had a prescription did not buy the drug. For about a third of these, because he already had it at home. For others, because the drug was too expensive. However, 17% of the interviewees judges the price of medicines too high. Furthermore, the 10% is dissatisfied with the contents of the package of the prescribed drug, excessive in quantity with respect to the treatment needs. Altroconsumo draws attention to this given that the waste of medicines is a useless cost for individual citizens and for the system as a whole, but also to the detriment of the environment; 26% of the interviewees stated that they throw out expired medicines in the rubbish bin and 19% that they throw them down the toilet drain.
The Italians interviewed do not shine in accuracy in taking medicines: a fifth of the sample declares that they forget to take their medicines, one in ten sometimes changes the dose recommended by the doctor on their own initiative. Compliance with therapy appears to depend on several factors, including whether or not the visit met the patient's expectations. Overall, the survey shows that the information offered to patients is inadequate. Doctors are not always open to dialogue. The misuse of medicines sometimes depends on individual initiatives and free interpretations of individual patients, also linked to the feeling of not adequately managing the disease, not being able to interpret the disturbances or the cyclical appearance or disappearance of symptoms. Little information generates little trust in therapy: a fact that doctors should not ignore.
Marco Malagutti “pharmamarketing.it”
