Women’s Health Information-Seeking Experiences and Preferences for Health Communications on FDA-Regulated Products: A Qualitative Study in Urban Area

Moaz Abdelwadoud, Jennifer Huang, Ester Villalonga-Olives, Susan dosReis, Liz Jansky, C. Daniel Mullins (), Marc Kusinitz, Heather Ovelmen and Julia Ju
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Moaz Abdelwadoud: Department of Global and Environmental Health, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
Jennifer Huang: Westat, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
Ester Villalonga-Olives: Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Susan dosReis: Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Liz Jansky: Westat, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
C. Daniel Mullins: Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Marc Kusinitz: United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
Heather Ovelmen: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Julia Ju: United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: A key part of any effort to ensure informed health care decision-making among the public is access to reliable and relevant health-related information. We conducted focus groups with women from three generations across the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area to explore their information-seeking motivations, perceptions, challenges, and preferences regarding three FDA-regulated products: drugs, vaccines, and medical devices. The youngest generation discussed seeking health information for their children; the other two sought information for their own needs. All participants noted that finding health information appropriate to their reading level was a challenge, as was identifying reliable sources of information. All generations identified in-person and live interactions as their preferred method of communication and health care providers as their preferred source for information. All three generations recognized the usefulness of websites, and the two older generations acknowledged the advantages of brochures. Our findings suggest approaches the FDA could consider to improve communications: (a) supporting in-person and live health information interactions; (b) leveraging the agency’s standing with the public to highlight it as a leading source of validated health information; (c) increasing the FDA website’s visibility in internet searches and making its navigation easier; and (d) using multi-pronged approaches and media for various audiences.

Keywords: women; aging; health communication; consumer health information; United States Food and Drug Administration; FDA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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