Open Access‘It’s the best of two evils’: a study of patients’ perceived information needs about oral steroids for asthma
Author(s) -
Stevenson Fiona A.,
Wallace Gwen,
Rivers Peter,
Gerrett David
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
health expectations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.314
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1369-7625
pISSN - 1369-6513
DOI - 10.1046/j.1369-6513.1999.00055.x
Subject(s) - asthma , medicine , family medicine , medical information , patient education
Objectives To explore the sources of patients’ knowledge about the potential side‐effects of oral steroids prescribed to treat asthma. Methods Seventeen in‐depth interviews were conducted with patients taking prescribed oral steroid medication (prednisolone) for asthma. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and the data organized according to common themes. Results All the respondents acknowledged they had no choice but to take oral steroids but they wanted to be informed about the potential side‐effects. Respondents reported that they had not received sufficient information about side‐effects from their general practitioner (GP). Information was sought from both medical sources (pharmacists and asthma nurses) and non‐medical sources (friends and family, self‐help groups and the media) to supplement their knowledge. The conclusions drawn about the risks of taking oral steroids were also influenced by respondents’ existing beliefs. Conclusions Respondents drew upon information about oral steroids from a variety of professional and lay sources. The findings add weight to calls for doctors and patients to share their respective knowledge in consultations. Developing an understanding of the views of GPs about the provision of information about side‐effects would help to identify any perceived barriers to a more open exchange of information in the consultation.