Information prescriptions: a barrier to fulfillment

The aim of this project was to identify and compare physician-perceived versus patient-experienced barriers to filling information prescriptions.

Physicians participated in a focus group designed to identify any issues linked to the implementation of the project. Telephone interviews were conducted with patients to gather details of the challenges encountered as well as to collect general health information-seeking practices.

Although physicians identified several obstacles patients may encounter, it was not possible to identify patient barriers as no patient indicated having received an information prescription. In the focus group, physicians reported not using the term "information prescription," thus undermining one of the intrinsic tenets of the project.

Although designed with the physicians' input, the study results demonstrated a disconnect in the information prescription process. The addition of intervention fidelity measures may have ensured a more positive outcome.