Publication
A Cross-Sectional Study on the Use of, Preference for, and Perceived Reliability of Mass Media for Drug-Related Information Among the General Public in Sarawak
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date:
03-2017
DOI:
10.1177/2168479016674041
Abstract: Because of the large size of Sarawak and the high proportion of people residing in rural areas in this Malaysian state, disseminating drug-related information there can be challenging. It is, therefore, important to recognize the type of mass media for drug-related information that are salient to the people of Sarawak. This study was aimed at identifying the use of and the preferences for mass media to obtain drug-related information among the public in Sarawak. We also aimed to recognize the media perceived as the most reliable for drug-related information. This was a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire carried out from September to October 2013. Survey respondents were recruited from 4 isions in Sarawak: Kuching, Sibu, Miri, and Bintulu. A total of 433 completed questionnaires were obtained at the end of the study period. All respondents had access to common mass media such as television (89.8%, 389/433), radio (68.6%, 297/433), and the Internet (66.1%, 286/433). Among all respondents, television (71.4%, 309/433) was noted as the most preferred media for drug-related information. Compared with rural respondents, urban respondents were significantly more likely to have access to and prefer the Internet to obtain drug-related information. On the other hand, rural respondents were more likely to have access to and prefer radio for such information compared to their urban counterparts. Television can be an important and attractive choice of mass media in a quality use of medicines (QUM) c aign. The Internet can be used to disseminate drug-related information in urban areas, whereas radio can be used in a QUM c aign targeting the rural public.