Risk Perception of Prescription Drugs: Results of a National Survey
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Risk Perception of Prescription Drugs: Results of a National Survey Pod Slovic, PhD Research Scientist, Decision Research, Eugene, Oregon
Ellen Peters, PhD Research Scientist. Decision Research, Eugene, Oregon
John Grono, PhD Director. Risk Management Strategy. Safety and Risk Management, Pfizer Inc, New York. New Yo& Susan Berger, PhD Director. Science Knowledge and Policy. Science and Medical Advocacy, Pfizer Inc, New York, New York Gretchen S. Dieck, PhD Vice President, Risk Management Strateu, Safety and Risk Managemen1, Pfizer lnc. New York. New York
Key Words Risk perception; Prescription drugs; Acceptable risk: Risk management; Risk communication Correspondence Address Paul Slovic. PhD, Decision Research. 1201 Oak Street. Suite 200. Eugene. OR 97401 (e-mail:pslovic@darkwing .uoregon.edu).
The opinions expressed in this publication represent the opinions ofthe contributors and do not reflect the oficial p d i g of P j z n lnc or the institutions with which the authors are affiliated.
Understanding drug risk perceptions is a prerequisite for designing better communication materials for patients and the public and, ultimately, for ensuring the safe and effectiveuse of pharmaceutical products. The present survey of US residents replicates and extends earlier surveys in Sweden and Canada that were designed to describe the public’s perceptions of risk and benefitfrom the use of various kinds of prescription drugs. The results were quite similar to thosefound in Sweden and Canada more than a decade ago. Prescription medicines were perceived to be high in benefit and low in risk. The only exceptions were sleeping pills, antidepressants, and diet drugs. Causes of adverse side effects tended to be attributed more to patient sensitivity or actions by the physician than to improper manufacturing, testing, or regulation. Reactions to a drug crisis scenario and the im-
INTRODUCTION Knowledge of risk perceptions has been demonstrated to be vitally important in understanding how individuals and societies manage the risks of daily life. In medicine, perceptions of the risks and benefits associated with drugs are likely to influence patients’ treatment choices, their compliance with treatment regimens, their views on the acceptability of adverse reactions and the drugs that cause them, and their attitudes toward government regulation of drugs. Understanding perceptions is a prerequisite for designing better communication materials for patients and the public and, ultimately, for ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical products. During the period 1987- 1991, national surveys in Sweden and Canada examined public attitudes and perceptions regarding prescription drugs (12). The present survey of US residents replicates and extends the earlier surveys. These
portance of additional information in influencing the reactions are also reported. Specifically, information that a drug had fmer side effects than similar drugs was most influential on respondents’ reactions: information that the government was collec
