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No blank slates: Pre-existing schemas about pharmaceuticals predict memory for side effects
Monika K Heller1, Sarah C E Chapman1, Rob Horne1
1a Research Department of Practice and Policy , University College London School of Pharmacy , London , UK.
Psychology & Health
|February 22, 2017
Summary
People who believe medicines are more harmful recall fewer side effects and are more likely to attribute unrelated symptoms like headaches as medication side effects. Memory plays a role in this attribution process.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Patient beliefs about medications, known as pharmaceutical schemas, influence symptom attribution.
- Perceptions of personal sensitivity also shape these beliefs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between pharmaceutical schemas and memory for medication side effects.
- To determine if memory for side effects mediates the attribution of unrelated symptoms as side effects.
Main Methods:
- An analogue study design was employed.
- Participants reviewed a fictitious asthma drug's patient leaflet listing eight side effects.
- Recall and recognition memory for side effects were measured, alongside attribution of an unlisted symptom (headache) via vignette.
Main Results:
- Beliefs of greater pharmaceutical harm correlated with poorer recall of correct side effects (r=-.273).
- Higher perceived harm also linked to reduced ability to distinguish listed from unlisted side effects (r=-.256).
- Participants perceiving pharmaceuticals as more harmful were more likely to attribute headache as a side effect (r=.381), with recall partially mediating this effect.
Conclusions:
- Pharmaceutical schemas are linked to how well individuals remember side effect information.
- Memory for side effects appears to partially explain why negative beliefs about pharmaceuticals lead to attributing unrelated symptoms as side effects.
Keywords:
beliefs about medicinesmemoryperceived sensitivity to medicines scalepharmaceutical schemasquestionnaireside effectsMore Related Videos
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