Obtain feed-back from prescribers about the effectiveness of the newsletters themselves.

Satisfaction with HSNZ V2N2 Antimicrobials
1=Very dissatisfied
7=Very satisfied
U=unspecified

Satisfaction score unspecified

"Please don’t give up this publication!! Doctors need it even if they don’t admit it!"

"I find it excellent in making me think about what I read & how this influences my prescribing."

"Generally excellent publication. I hope you can continue."

"One thing has really struck me about this publication * the small size of the typeface… it is really important to appeal & readability to have the content in a size which is easy on the eye."

"Good to consider the pressures on prescribers that we often overlook."

Satisfaction score 1

"I think there is a reasonable point being made about overuse of antibiotics – but it is being made in all the other magazines. I find the interpretations (possible) of ads patronizing and a waste of paper – who reads the ads anyway? A waste of time. Drs in general very sceptical about colour ads! Sometimes too sceptical (as I may seem in these answers.)"

"Cannot see a reason for your organisation. PHARMAC’s decisions often seem arbitrary… [sections on advertisements] Not read \ no comment… Presume you are not really interested in feedback [because] no envelope or "freepost" [provided]… Not read, GPs are not stupid as you infer."

Satisfaction score 2

"Obvious – doctors are not idiots."

"I feel it is far too negative. I am concerned Pharmac’s agenda is purely cost cutting."

Satisfaction score 3

Nil

Satisfaction score 4

"I cannot approve Healthy Scepticism because its funded by PHARMAC. Even if no bias intended – it’s going to be impossible to separate CONFLICT OF INTERESTS." (original emphasis).

"It is always good to read the other side! If feel both are extremes though maybe your article being overcritical and drug companies being under critical. Is the truth not somewhere in between. Doesn’t help to quote a few pertinent lines out of selected articles."

Satisfaction score 5

"Useful synopsis of issues."

I would like to see more of HS – it is a good review – well done."

"Please continue."

"Keep it up."

"Happy to receive this kind of info."

"Keep them coming. I don’t read many ads, but appreciate your investigation into their claims."

"Having feedback on an A4 size to me is much easier (with a fax number reply) Just stuff it in FAX machine (no envelope, stamp, box box!)

Satisfaction score 6

"Great"

"I’m sorry that I missed your visit. It is nice to have my own scepticism about antibiotics + drug company ploys reinforced. Thank you."

"Content is biased, but unashamedly so. A more balanced viewpoint might give more credibility. Is it appropriate to use Australian guidelines in NZ? The impression given is that they will be applicable here – are they?"

"Enjoyed recent seminar in Wgtn by Peter."

"Perhaps slightly negative. After all I do need to use some drugs which are advertised. Overall: informative and useful."

"All issues have been a very interesting and a welcome addition to my ‘in tray’. Further issues would be read & appreciated."

"A lot of useful information + arguments to help put the issues in persective."

"Excellent viewpoints + analysis."

"Enlightening."

"A booster to one’s anti "Maddison Avenue bull".

"Keep up the good work but don’t get too evangelical."

"A fresh approach to use of medicines and their promotion by co’s."

"Very useful to have a source of balanced information to counter the information received from drug reps."

"Nice to get an alternative viewpoint."

"This is great!!! We need more! I’m sorry I missed your talk in ChCh – please come back! I think I don’t overuse ab’s – trouble is we probably all think that!"

"My practice with antibiotics is probably ok but the issue on antihypertensives was really useful for reinforcing what has been acceptably proven and what has not been."

Satisfaction score 7

"It is so helpful to have the balancing opinion to weigh against the advertising. Thank you. Please continue to publish this".

"More please!!"

"Helpful to have an independent viewpoint."

"Its excellent. Long overdue."

"Very helpful and interesting."

"Would strongly support continuation of this excellent publication."

"Good ideas and reports."

"Great. Short, simple, to the point and well researched. Easy tool to improve habits and confirm good judgement. Certainly hope we’ll get more issues."

"I would like to see this journal continue provided editorial independence can be guaranteed."

"I would be very keen for further episodes of Healthy Scepticism."

"Excellent publication – please continue."

"Excellent & appropriate newsletter- aims @ right level & is right length for those engaged in the paper war. Let’s hope for more of the same."

"Please keep going."

Some very satisfied respondents had specific suggestions for improvements that would increase impact:

"I am all for it. I can’t stand advertising. However I wonder if you might be better to start "counter advertising"- ads which clearly and succinctly state what you are saying in Healthy Scepticism."

"I feel that last time [calcium channel blockers] you made many self-evident or trivial points; this time they seemed less obvious and more worth making; I hope Healthy Scepticism wil be able to continue. But most GPs probably won’t take the TIME to read it - ? make it simpler to take in the info quickly."