When pharmacotherapeutic recommendations may lead to the reverse effect on physician decision-making

For long the medical literature has shown that patients do not always receive appropriate care, including pharmacotherapeutic treatment. To achieve improved patient care, a number of physician-oriented interventions are being delivered internationally in an attempt to implement evidence based medicine in routine daily practice of medical practitioners. The pharmacy profession has taken an active role in the delivery of intervention strategies aimed at promoting evidence based prescribing and improved quality and safety of medicine use. However, the medical literature also supports the notion that valid clinical care recommendations do not always have the desired impact on physician behaviour. We argue that the well-established theory of psychological reactance might at least partially explain instances when physicians do not act upon such recommendations. Reactance theory suggests that when recommended to take a certain action, a motivational state compels us to react in a way that affirms our freedom to choose. Often we choose to do the opposite of what the recommendation is proposing that we do or we just become entrenched in our initial position. The basic concepts of psychological reactance are universal and likely to be applicable to the provision of recommendations to physicians. Making recommendations regarding clinical care, including pharmacotherapy, may carry with it implied threats, as it can be perceived as an attempt to restrict one’s freedom of choice potentially generating reactance and efforts to avoid them. By identifying and taking into account factors likely to promote reactance, physician-oriented interventions could become more effective

Warning messages for electronic gambling machines: evidence for regulatory policies

In the United States, warning messages were first included on tobacco products in the 1960 s, and were subsequently added to alcohol products in the 1980 s. However, they have yet to be applied comprehensively to gambling. Several jurisdictions, including Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, have mandated responsible gaming requirements, including pop-up warning messages to provide players feedback on potentially risky play. The aim of the current paper was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on gambling-related warning messages and to discuss the public policy implications of the research to date. Across all studies examined, the use of warning messages was largely supported. Messages informed consumers and if applied appropriately, potentially reduced harm. The mode of message display, along with placement, content, framing, and context were all found to influence the impact of messages. Messages demonstrated optimal impact when they popped-up on the center screen, created an interruption in play, and required active removal by the player. Messages were more effective at modifying behavior when they were brief, easy to read, and direct. As opportunities for gambling continue to increase, findings support that gambling-related warning messages can reduce risky gambling play and can be used to inform policy decisions around responsible gaming. Gaps in the warning-message literature to be addressed by future research efforts and to further inform prevention policy are discussed

Perception of Health Claims Among Nordic Consumers

Health claims, Healthy eating, Marketing, Food,