ABSTRACT
In this study, we aim to clarify the impact of drug abuse prevention education and the experiences of people who have stayed in countries that are tolerate marijuana use for recreational purposes on their beliefs regarding the relaxation of the Cannabis Control Law. On May 12-13th, 2022, a web-based questionnaire survey was presented to Japanese nationals aged 18-41 years who had spent at least 5 days in a marijuana-tolerant country. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted with “Views on the Relaxation of the Cannabis Control Law” as the objective variable. A total of 160 respondents (45.6% male) responded, of whom 33.8% supported relaxing the law for the consumption of recreational cannabis in the form of food, drink, or smoke. Additionally, 27.5% of the respondents had encountered recreational cannabis through some channel during their stay. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between idea of supporting the relaxation of the law and the tolerance of the image of the physical and mental effects of recreational cannabis and the social effects of its distribution. Neither knowledge of marijuana and drug abuse nor the experience of being encouraged to use it during their stay were significantly associated. The study suggested that in order to deter marijuana use during stays in such countries, it is necessary not only to improve knowledge, but also to foster imagination and the ability to think and predict the physical and social effects of its use.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: At the pharmacy, information obtained from patients by pharmacists is often inadequate. To motivate patients to provide information, we explored factors influencing their willingness to provide information and evaluated changes in their intention through informing of pharmacists’ contribution to pharmacotherapy. Methods: Four videos regarding pharmacists’ contribution to pharmacotherapy were created. A total of 600 participants who regularly visit pharmacies were targeted. One hundred and fifty participants watched one of the four videos and answered questions about their willingness to provide information to pharmacists before and after watching the videos. Key findings: The positive factors influencing the willingness to provide information were trust in the pharmacist and knowing pharmacists’ contribution to pharmacotherapy. After watching any of the videos, the willingness to provide information increased (P<0.001). In addition, when the participants were divided into two groups based on whether or not they had already known about the video content, the willingness of the participants in both aware and unaware groups to provide information improved (P<0.001). The factors that improved willingness in participants with low willingness were an explanation from their family pharmacist and trust in the pharmacist. On the contrary, having diabetes was a restraining factor. Conclusion: The study revealed that publicizing pharmacists’ contribution to pharmacotherapy increases the patients’ willingness to provide information to the pharmacist, regardless of their original level of awareness of the contribution. Furthermore, patient-pharmacist relationships based on trust in the pharmacist were influential.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to identify patient-side factors that facilitate their provision of information to pharmacists (Survey A) and identify questions to assess their willingness to provide information to pharmacies (Survey B). Two web-based surveys were conducted among individuals aged 50-79 years who regularly brought their prescriptions to pharmacies. Survey A was conducted in February 2020 with 540 respondents. Multiple regression analysis was conducted, with “patients’ provision of information to pharmacies” as the objective variable. Survey B was conducted in November 2020 with 126 respondents for each three patterns of questions regarding “patients’ provision of information to pharmacies.” The distribution of responses was compared. More than half of the respondents were willing to provide information to pharmacists on the contents of the initial questionnaire. In contrast, less than half of the respondents were willing to provide information about the physician’s explanation of drug treatment, history of the disease, concerns and consultations about medication, blood tests results, and unusual symptoms. Factors on the patients’ side that promoted the provision of information included having a family pharmacist, a sense of trust in the pharmacist, recognition as a medical professional, and understanding the pharmacist’s work. As an indicator to evaluate the increase in patients’ willingness to provide information, the questionnaire statement “I will actively tell the pharmacist about [ ].” was found to be appropriate. Words such as a physician’s explanation of drug treatment, history of the disease were included in [ ].