Experiences of and attitudes towards receiving information about non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a cross-sectional survey of patients in Thailand

ABSTRACTObjective: To determine sources of information about NSAIDs used by out-patients, factors related to receipt of information and patient attitudes towards receiving safety information.Research design and methods: Cross-sectional survey, using self-completed questionnaires distributed directly to 500 outpatients prescribed any NSAIDs from an orthopaedic clinic in Thailand, over a 4-month period.Results: There were 548 patients approached and 474 completed questionnaires returned (94.8%). The most frequent aspects of medicines information that were provided related to administration (97.2%), mostly provided by pharmacists, and indication (85.8%), mostly provided by physicians. Information on identifying, monitoring and managing adverse effects was received by fewer than 50% of patients. Safety information was received significantly more frequently by younger patients (P<0.01), those using non-selective COX-2 inhibitors (P<0.001), intermittent NSAIDs (P<0.05) and fewer concomitant medicines (P<0.05). ...