Patients 'don't trust medical advice'

48% of patients trust their doctor's medical advice

Almost half of British patients do not trust their doctor to give them reliable information on medication.

A survey of patient organisations across Europe also reveals that just 45% of Britons have faith in pharmacists when it comes to getting honest information on treatments.

The figures put Britain at the bottom of the European table and compare unfavourably with patients in Portugal, where around 80% trust doctors to give them impartial advice.

Trust in doctors

Portugal 82%

Denmark 75%

Germany 60%

Netherlands 57%

UK 48%

France 33%

EU average 60%

According to the survery, most patients prefer to get information on medical treatments from independent charities and many would like to get details on drugs directly from pharmaceutical companies.

The survey was launched earlier this year by independent consultants PatientView and the International Alliance of Patient Organisations.

They plan to use the results to join the on-going debate in Europe on whether drug manufacturers should be allowed to advertise their products to patients.

The European Commission announced in April that it is considering proposals to allow drugs companies to target information on AIDS, asthma and diabetes directly to consumers.

Trust in pharmacists

Netherlands 79%

UK 45%

Denmark 38%

France 33%

Portugal 27%

Germany 22%

EU average 37%

At the moment, most people rely on doctors or pharmacists to tell them what drugs they need.

According to the survey, 30% of Britons believe companies should be allowed to advertise their products. This compares with an EU average of 33%.

More than half indicated that they were undecided and suggested the European Commission should examine the matter further.

Support was strongest among people living in the Netherlands at 56% and lowest in Denmark where just 19% backed such a move.

Lack of cash

The IAPO said the low levels of trust among British patients probably reflected their growing awareness of how a lack of money can influence which medication they are given.

Angela Hayes, its chief executive, said: "I think many patients have lost their innocence and are unsure whether prescriptions given by doctors are for financial reasons are whether they are genuinely the best treatments for them."

Speaking to BBC News Online, she added: "Some patients have also had bad experiences of postcode prescribing and this has certainly raised their awareness."

The Royal College of General Practitioners said the findings were a cause for concern.

A spokeswoman said: "It is important that patients in the UK trust their GP to give them reliable information about prescription drugs and the findings of this survey are, therefore, of concern to the Royal College of General Practitioners.

"The GP workforce crisis means the average consultation is only eight minutes and family doctors are, therefore, constrained by lack of time with patients.

"In spite of this the vast majority of GPs are doing an excellent job and are working hard to ensure they give comprehensive information about prescription medication".

But the Terrence Higgins Trust, one of the groups which participated in the survey, said the findings were not surprising.

Its head of policy Lisa Power said: "They show that we have a long way to go to achieve seamless care throughout the health service for people with HIV."

She added that it raised questions over government plans to give GPs a greater role in treating patients with sexually transmitted infections.