Senior and health-professionals' perceptions and communication about prescriptions and alternative therapies

Patients and professionals have difficulty communicating with one another a bout prescriptions and alternative therapies. The aim of this research was to investigate and contrast 714 seniors and health-professionals' perceptio ns and communication about the above mentioned health products. First, inte nsive face-to-face, ethnographic interviews with health professionals and s eniors were conducted to elicit relevant issues of concern. Second, focus g roups were used to evaluate the issues and wording of question probes devel oped initially. Third, a survey established associations and predictive val idity of variables found in the first two phases. Highlights from the emerg ent themes include different perceptions of (a) the value and usage of alte rnative therapies, (b) information adequacy about prescriptions and alterna tive therapies, and (c) communication about prescription misuses and altern ative therapy use. Seniors and professionals suggested insights for improvi ng clinical practice.