Backgrounder: Seniors deserve voice in Pharmacare policy decisions

HIGHLIGHTS

*Direct consumer evidence has a valuable role to play in informing drug benefits plan policy and decision-making.

*Communication barriers between seniors and physicians are an impediment to seniors' independence, as seniors cannot get the information they need to make informed decisions concerning the management of their health.

*Information sources for common health issues that are easily accessed and acceptable to consumers should be established.

*There is support from physicians and consumers for the use of random controlled trials to evaluate policy impacts.

*Further research should be conducted on innovative methods to match information needs of policy-makers with researchers' ability to collect direct consumer evidence.

*Copies of the Seniors Drug Focus Project Report are available by contacting Lois Edgar, UVic's Centre on Aging at (250) 721-6524.