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Analysis of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis prevention and treatment

Purpose: Evidence-based consumer information is a prerequisite for informed decision making. So far, there are no reports on the quality of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis. In the present study we analysed brochures on osteoporosis available in Germany. Method: All printed brochures f...

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Autores principales: Meyer, Gabriele, Steckelberg, Anke, Mühlhauser, Ingrid
Formato: Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House 2007
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2703233/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19675709
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author Meyer, Gabriele
Steckelberg, Anke
Mühlhauser, Ingrid
author_facet Meyer, Gabriele
Steckelberg, Anke
Mühlhauser, Ingrid
author_sort Meyer, Gabriele
collection PubMed
description Purpose: Evidence-based consumer information is a prerequisite for informed decision making. So far, there are no reports on the quality of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis. In the present study we analysed brochures on osteoporosis available in Germany. Method: All printed brochures from patient and consumer advocacy groups, physician and governmental organisations, health insurances, and pharmaceutical companies were initially collected in 2001, and updated in December 2004. Brochures were analysed by two independent researchers using 37 internationally proposed criteria addressing evidence-based content, risk communication, transparency of the development process, and layout and design. Results: A total of 165 brochures were identified; 59 were included as they specifically targeted osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Most brochures were provided by pharmaceutical companies (n=25), followed by health insurances (n=11) and patient and consumer advocacy groups (n=11). Quality of brochures did not differ between providers. Only 1 brochure presented lifetime risk estimate; 4 mentioned natural course of osteoporosis. A balanced report on benefit versus lack of benefit was presented in 2 brochures and on benefit versus adverse effects in 8 brochures. Four brochures mentioned relative risk reduction, 1 reported absolute risk reduction through hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Out of 28 brochures accessed in 2004 10 still recommended HRT without discussing adverse effects. Transparency of the development process was limited: 25 brochures reported publication date, 26 cited author and only 1 references. In contrast, readability and design was generally good. Conclusion: The quality of consumer brochures on osteoporosis in Germany is utterly inadequate. They fail to give evidence-based data on diagnosis and treatment options. Therefore, the material is not useful to enhance informed consumer choice.
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spelling pubmed-27032332009-07-28 Analysis of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis prevention and treatment Meyer, Gabriele Steckelberg, Anke Mühlhauser, Ingrid Ger Med Sci Article Purpose: Evidence-based consumer information is a prerequisite for informed decision making. So far, there are no reports on the quality of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis. In the present study we analysed brochures on osteoporosis available in Germany. Method: All printed brochures from patient and consumer advocacy groups, physician and governmental organisations, health insurances, and pharmaceutical companies were initially collected in 2001, and updated in December 2004. Brochures were analysed by two independent researchers using 37 internationally proposed criteria addressing evidence-based content, risk communication, transparency of the development process, and layout and design. Results: A total of 165 brochures were identified; 59 were included as they specifically targeted osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Most brochures were provided by pharmaceutical companies (n=25), followed by health insurances (n=11) and patient and consumer advocacy groups (n=11). Quality of brochures did not differ between providers. Only 1 brochure presented lifetime risk estimate; 4 mentioned natural course of osteoporosis. A balanced report on benefit versus lack of benefit was presented in 2 brochures and on benefit versus adverse effects in 8 brochures. Four brochures mentioned relative risk reduction, 1 reported absolute risk reduction through hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Out of 28 brochures accessed in 2004 10 still recommended HRT without discussing adverse effects. Transparency of the development process was limited: 25 brochures reported publication date, 26 cited author and only 1 references. In contrast, readability and design was generally good. Conclusion: The quality of consumer brochures on osteoporosis in Germany is utterly inadequate. They fail to give evidence-based data on diagnosis and treatment options. Therefore, the material is not useful to enhance informed consumer choice. German Medical Science GMS Publishing House 2007-01-11 /pmc/articles/PMC2703233/ /pubmed/19675709 Text en Copyright © 2007 Meyer et al. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.
spellingShingle Article
Meyer, Gabriele
Steckelberg, Anke
Mühlhauser, Ingrid
Analysis of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis prevention and treatment
title Analysis of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis prevention and treatment
title_full Analysis of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis prevention and treatment
title_fullStr Analysis of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis prevention and treatment
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis prevention and treatment
title_short Analysis of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis prevention and treatment
title_sort analysis of consumer information brochures on osteoporosis prevention and treatment
topic Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2703233/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19675709
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