Pfizer survey shows UK patients want greater information
pharmafile | January 20, 2005 | News story | Medical Communications |
Nearly half of UK patients with long-term conditions don't think they have enough information about their disease and that this lack of knowledge might be worsening their condition.
A survey of more than 4,500 patients in Europe and the US with chronic conditions found that 48% of those in the UK were concerned they did not know enough about their disease and its treatments to confidently manage them. Moreover, 49% thought this could be detrimental to their health.
The research was carried out by Double Helix Development for Pfizer and looked into the level of health information available to patients with three chronic diseases: asthma, type II diabetes and heart disease. In the process over 4,500 patients from Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, UK and the US were questioned.
Simon O'Neill, director of care and policy at Diabetes UK, commented: "People with diabetes may only see their healthcare professional for a few hours a year, yet they have to manage their own condition every day. Patient education must be a priority."
UK patients scored significantly better than nearly all their European neighbours by displaying higher levels of knowledge across the three disease areas.
In the UK, 13% of heart disease patients displayed an 'excellent' knowledge of their condition, compared to 4% of patients in Sweden and Spain, 2% in France, Italy and Germany and less than 1% in Poland.
Jack Watters, Pfizer Europe vice president of Medical Affiars, said: "The differences in knowledge across Europe shown in the survey highlight the importance of improved information and education in the health arena.
"Better and more cost-effective management, as well as the prevention of diseases, is possible only if patients have access to, and a good understanding of, accurate information from reliable sources," he added.
Pfizer's survey also found that UK patients used a variety of information sources for their condition, such as pharmacists, newspapers, TV and radio, books on health and the internet.
For their main source of health information, 91% of patients use doctors and nurses. Relatively few patients (10%) turned to the internet, but this was more than those using patient support groups (7%), but fewer than those using health books and TV or radio (22% and 16% respectively).
The internet was used the most in the US and Sweden (16% and 17% respectively), and the least in France (6%), Italy and Spain (both 5%).
Later this year the DH is due to publish a National Service Framework for long-term conditions. In addition to focusing on neurological conditions, the NSF will also draw out generic lessons for care and treatment and support services for people with any long-term condition.
