Almost half of family doctors and two-thirds of pharmacists are not telling patients about the side effects of their medication, according to a study published yesterday.
The study, conducted by Lansdowne Market Research for the Irish Patients Association, set out to investigate the level and quality of information on medicines given to patients across the State over the past 12 months. Some 1,200 adults were interviewed.
It found that only 56 per cent of doctors and 34 per cent of pharmacists told patients about the side effects of their medicine.
Therefore, many had to depend on the information leaflet that went with the medication for this information. However, the research showed one in five did not read this information leaflet on the last occasion they received prescription medicine, and one in seven said they never read such leaflets. Those least likely to read the leaflets were 15-24 year olds and those aged over 65.
The study also showed that apart from consulting with their doctor, one fifth of people seek information about their health from the Internet, the media, or from friends or family.
Mr Stephen McMahon, chairman of the Irish Patients Association, said he was extremely concerned at the findings. "People have a right to be fully informed about their health and the medicines they take, yet there is clearly an information gap," he said.
The head of pharmacy at Dublin's Tallaght Hospital, Mr Tim Delaney, said the information leaflets included with medicines are limited in size, can be difficult to read and are not available to the doctor at the time of prescribing.
The Irish Pharmaceutical Union, which represents 1,200 community pharmacists across the country, said it welcomed the results of the research. Its vice president, Mr Karl Hilton, said up to 50 per cent of patients do not take their medicines as prescribed.
"Members of the public often stop taking essential medicines because they may not fully understand why they were prescribed the medicines to begin with, and they often have fears and concerns over possible side effects caused by the medication. The more people understand about their medicines - and how to use them properly - the more benefit they will get from those medicines," he said.
Meanwhile, more than three quarters of those surveyed said the healthcare service they experienced was professional and genuinely caring.