Trust in Online Prescription Drug Information Among Internet Users

Abstract

The proliferation of both manufacturer-controlled and independent medication-related websites has aroused concern among consumers and policy-makers concerning the trustworthiness of Web-based drug information. The authors examine consumers' trust in on-line prescription drug information and its influence on information search behavior. The study design involves a retrospective analysis of data from a 1998 national survey. The findings reveal that trust in drug information from traditional media sources such as television and newspapers transfers to the domain of the Internet. Furthermore, a greater trust in on-line prescription drug information stimulates utilization of the Internet for information search after exposure to prescription drug advertising.

Trust between patients and health websites: a review of the literature and derived outcomes from empirical studies

“…For our purposes we include examples from the text with the list of conflated terms: credibility, e.g., to explain the term credibility the researchers ask the question: "is it trustworthy?" (Rosenbaum et al, 2008, Lemire et al, 2008, Menon et al, 2002); reliability, e.g. "This study found that the NHS and specialist charities were felt to be reliable while commercial sources were less trusted."…”

“…The top five terms used in the parlance of trust research in e-health are the following: quality , n=47, e.g., "detailed assessments of the quality of health information" (Sillence et al, 2004); understanding , n=44, e.g., "familiarity allows consumers to have a better understanding of the procedures" (Zahedi and Song, 2008); reliability , n=43, e.g., "reliance is an extremely important factor in credibility judgments" (Flanagin and Metzger, 2007); communication , n=41, e.g., "patients may also benefit from instruction in communication skills..." (Benotsch et al, 2004); and, experience , n=40, e.g., "greater training and experience in managing digital health information" (Menon et al, 2002). All meta-constructs with a frequency of thirteen or higher were used to create a visual representation.…”

Patient source of learning about health technologies and ratings of trust in technologies used in their care

“…Relationships between media and health have been identified; studies have found that after exposure to television advertisements participants rate a greater trust in web-based prescription information and increase their use of the internet for prescription information (Menon et al 2002). Other studies have found a relationship between trust in health information found on the web and television (Wilson et al 2008).…”

Lifestyle determinants of behavioural outcomes triggered by direct‐to‐consumer advertising of prescription medicines: a cross‐sectional study

“…Self‐reported behaviours in response to seeing an advertisement for a medicine 27 were measured by four yes/no questions adapted from prior studies: ‘As a result of seeing an advertisement for a drug, have you asked your doctor for a prescription?’; 62 ‘As a result of seeing an advertisement for a drug, have you asked your doctor for more information about an illness?’; 62 ‘As a result of seeing an advertisement for a drug, have you searched the Internet for more information regarding an illness?’; 1,63 and ‘As a result of seeing an advertisement for a drug, have you asked your pharmacist for more information about a drug?’ 62 …”

“…'; 62 'As a result of seeing an advertisement for a drug, have you searched the Internet for more information regarding an illness? '; 1,63 and 'As a result of seeing an advertisement for a drug, have you asked your pharmacist for more information about a drug?' .…”