Sources of Information on Medicinal Products Among Physicians – A Survey Conducted Among Primary Care Physicians in Poland

Introduction: Primary care physicians need to have access to up-to-date knowledge in various fields of medicine and high-quality information sources, but little is known about the use and credibility of sources of information on medicinal products among Polish doctors. The main goal of this study was to analyze the sources of information on medicinal products among primary care physicians in Poland.Methods: A survey was conducted among 316 primary care physicians in Poland. The following information was collected: demographic data of participants, type and frequency of using data sources on medicinal products, barriers to access credible information, assessment of the credibility of the sources used, impact of a given source and other factors on prescription decisions.Results: The most frequently mentioned sources of information were medical representatives (79%), medical journals (78%) and congresses, conventions, conferences, and training (76%). The greatest difficulty in finding the latest information about medicinal products was the lack of time. The surveyed doctors considered clinical guidelines to be the most credible source of information, and this source also had the greatest impact on the choice of prescribed medicinal products.Conclusion: The study showed that clinicians consider clinical guidelines as the most credible source of information with the greatest impact on prescribing medicinal products. However, it is not the source most often mentioned by doctors for obtaining knowledge about medicinal products. There is a need to develop strategies and tools to provide physicians with credible sources of information.

So What if They’re Lying to Us? Comparing Rhetorical Strategies for Discrediting Sources of Disinformation and Misinformation Using an Affect-Based Credibility Rating

Despite growing research on false information, a theoretical framework to organize findings is lacking. We use affect control theory to fill this need and introduce the affect-based credibility rating for interpreting the effectiveness of rhetorical strategies in discrediting the source of falsehoods. The rating quantifies the difference in connotations between the labels used to characterize the source and an ideal, credible source. Successful discrediting amplifies the difference. We use the rating to compare rhetorical strategies for discrediting opponents as sources during rival information campaigns about the Equal Rights Amendment. We show claiming the opponent is spreading disinformation rather than misinformation (stating the opponent is spreading falsehoods deliberately, rather than unwittingly) appears more effective at discrediting, particularly when disinformation claims allege more sinister motives for lying. The new rating helps organize findings by enabling direct comparisons between strategies, thereby contributing toward efforts to detect and discredit falsehoods in media.

Can Mӧssbauer methods of classifying ordinary chondrites help to identify non-representative samples of these meteorites?

Mössbauer spectra of nonweathered ordinary chondrites consist of four main mineral phases: olivines, pyroxenes, metallic phase and troilite. These minerals represent more than 95% of the whole mass of an ordinary chondrite. Distribution of these mineral phases in micro-scale is not homogeneous. Nevertheless, preparation of representative sample of ordinary chondrite for Mössbauer measurements is possible. To do that a part of 1 g nonweathered material, selected from inside of meteorite without any specific intention is needed. The Warsaw group has been working on investigation of meteorites for 25 years and has analysed about 150 Mössbauer spectra of various meteorites. Among them we found 15 spectra, which could be suspected of being non-representative. These spectra were obtained from Baszkówka, Amber, Bjurböle, Krasnoi-Ugol and Chelyabinsk meteorites. The analysis of how the samples of meteorites were selected for investigation, has shown that the non-representativeness of samples may be due to: intentional choice of sample, preparation of sample from a too small part of material or the use of non-credible source of meteoritic samples. For confirmation of these assumptions, we used a new method of classification of ordinary chondrites – the 4M method. It turned out that this method is a very useful tool for investigation of non-representative samples of equilibrated ordinary chondrites.

Moral Testimony

The main aim of this chapter is to explore the importance of moral testimony for testifiers. Up to now, writers on moral testimony have by and large focused on how moral testimony impacts dependers. And, in doing so, they’ve tended to theorize about moral testimony assuming a rather abstracted picture of the testifier according to which all that really matters about her is that she’s a credible source. In contrast, this chapter shows how paying attention to the fact that testifiers are not just potential informants but also socially embedded moral agents helps us to discern heretofore unrecognized ways that moral testimony is valuable. More specifically, this chapter argues that dependence on moral testimony is valuable because it can promote the moral development of testifiers. Furthermore, dependence on moral testimony can be a way of respecting and standing by those who are oppressed in the face of their systematic moral subordination. And, finally, for oppressed persons, giving moral testimony can function as a way of resisting oppressive constructions of identity and expressing and retaining self-respect.

Systematic Review of RCTs Assessing the Effectiveness of mHealth Interventions to Improve Statin Medication Adherence: Using the Behaviour-Change Technique Taxonomy to Identify the Techniques that Improve Adherence

Statin non-adherence is a common problem in the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD), increasing patient morbidity and mortality. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions may be a scalable way to improve medication adherence. The objectives of this review were to assess the literature testing mHealth interventions for statin adherence and to identify the Behaviour-Change Techniques (BCTs) employed by effective and ineffective interventions. A systematic search was conducted of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) measuring the effectiveness of mHealth interventions to improve statin adherence against standard of care in those who had been prescribed statins for the primary or secondary prevention of CVD, published in English (1 January 2000–17 July 2020). For included studies, relevant data were extracted, the BCTs used in the trial arms were coded, and a quality assessment made using the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB2) questionnaire. The search identified 17 relevant studies. Twelve studies demonstrated a significant improvement in adherence in the mHealth intervention trial arm, and five reported no impact on adherence. Automated phone messages were the mHealth delivery method most frequently used in effective interventions. Studies including more BCTs were more effective. The BCTs most frequently associated with effective interventions were “Goal setting (behaviour)”, “Instruction on how to perform a behaviour”, and “Credible source”. Other effective techniques were “Information about health consequences”, “Feedback on behaviour”, and “Social support (unspecified)”. This review found moderate, positive evidence of the effect of mHealth interventions on statin adherence. There are four primary recommendations for practitioners using mHealth interventions to improve statin adherence: use multifaceted interventions using multiple BCTs, consider automated messages as a digital delivery method from a credible source, provide instructions on taking statins, and set adherence goals with patients. Further research should assess the optimal frequency of intervention delivery and investigate the generalisability of these interventions across settings and demographics.

Meet Journalists’ Needs

This chapter describes the steps researchers can take to lay the groundwork for positive, long-term relationships with journalists. To work productively with journalists, researchers should be willing and able to talk to them, give them a full story, clear bureaucratic roadblocks, take communication training, and become a credible source. It is important to make communication a two-way street. Thus, researchers should also give feedback on stories through emails, letters to the editor, or online comments. Journalists also like to have relevant story ideas pitched to them, to be involved in research projects, and to be given workshops on subjects they cover.

Advanced Care Planning Information and Public Institutions of Higher Education

This review was designed to identify behavior change techniques used to enhance pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) interventions to prevent and treat urinary incontinence among women. A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature was conducted to identify interventions for adult women to address UI with PFME. A taxonomy of BCTs was used to code intervention content. Ten articles were retrieved. Across the ten interventions, 111 BCTs were described, and 34 unique BCTs were identified. The most frequently coded BCTs included Instruction on how to perform the behavior (BCT 4.1; n=10 studies), Demonstration of the behavior (BCT 6.1; n=9 studies), Behavioral practice/rehearsal (BCT 8.1; n=9), and Credible source (BCT 9.1; n=9 studies). Specific findings indicate that a core intervention of four techniques is commonly used, and supported by complementary techniques from the categories feedback and monitoring as well as goals and planning.

Developing sugar-sweetened beverage warning labels for young adults

Objective: There is a lack of qualitative research developing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) warning labels with their intended end-users. We sought to identify promising SSB warning elements for improving label effectiveness and for future testing in policy and institutional settings. Design: Mixed-methods design using 10 focus groups, a design task, and survey. The design task was used to generate ideas for an icon that would dissuade SSB consumption. The survey and focus group guide assessed participant perceptions of SSB warning label mock-ups of text (loss-frame, gain-frame, and loss-frame with attribution), color, and icon options. Setting: Three large public universities in California from February-March 2018. Participants: Young adult SSB consumers (n=86) enrolled in one of three diverse California public universities. Results: Participants perceived the following elements as most effective for reducing SSB consumption: loss-frame text with attribution to a credible source, yellow and red color for label background, and an image or icon to accompany the text. Preferred images included sugar near or inside of an SSB, intuitive shapes like a triangle with exclamation mark or octagon, and a visual indicator of SSB sugar content compared with recommended limits. Support was high for using SSB warning labels in university cafeterias and on bottles/cans. Conclusion: Loss-frame text with a credible source, yellow or red label color, and icons could potentially enhance effectiveness of SSB warning labels and warrant further testing.