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BELIEFS ABOUT MEDICINES AND HERBAL REMEDIES

How Information will be Used

Information collected through the survey on this page will be analyzed and reported in the aggregate.  That is, it will not be possible for anyone to identify a particular individual with any set of responses.  We will download responses to a separate file which will be accessible only by statistical analysts who are affiliated with the Institute. We assure you that your responses will be kept confidential.  Please click on our Privacy Policy.

We are interested in your knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about "herbal remedies".  By "herbal remedies" we mean products such as Cellasene, St. John's Wort, Saw Palmetto, Garlic, Ginseng, Gingko, and Echinacea.

  1. How familiar are you with herbal remedies?

    Very familiar
    Somewhat familiar
    Not too familiar
    Not at all familiar
    Don't Know/Not Sure

  2. How often do you, yourself, use herbal remedies?

    Regularly
    Sometimes
    Hardly Ever
    Never
    Don't Know/Not Sure

    If you DO NOT use any herbal remedies, SKIP TO QUESTION 5 NOW and complete the rest of the survey.  If you DO use herbal remedies, even occasionally, please answer questions 3 and 4, as well as the rest of the survey.

     

  3. If you DO use an herbal remedy, AND a government agency said that it was ineffective, would you...

    stop using it?
    continue using it?
    try to obtain more information before making a decision?
    Don't Know.

  4. For you, personally, how important is it to be able to obtain these kinds of remedies if you want them?  Is it..

    Very important?
    Somewhat important?
    Not too important?
    Not at all important?
    Don't Know.

  5. Generally speaking, do you think that herbal remedies are good for people's health and well-being?

    Yes
    It depends
    No
    Don't Know

  6. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people with the flu?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  7. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people with cancer?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  8. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people with arthritis?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  9. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people with Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  10. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people with colds?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  11. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people with AIDS?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  12. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people with depression?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  13. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people with prostate problems?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  14. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people lower cholesterol?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  15. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people lower blood pressure?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  16. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people enhance performance?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  17. Do you think that herbal remedies can generally help people enhance endurance?

    Yes, can help
    No, cannot help
    Don't Know

  18. If you heard the phrase, "supports or boosts the immune system", would you think that this phrase means that herbal remedies PREVENT people from getting sick?

    Yes
    No
    Don't Know

  19. Would you think that this same phrase, "supports or boosts the immune system", means that herbal remedies help people get better if they are ALREADY SICK?

    Yes
    No
    Don't Know

  20. As far as you know, does the government regulate herbal remedies to make sure that they are safe?

    Yes, Government Regulates
    No, Government Does Not Regulate
    Don't Know

  21. As far as you know, does the government regulate herbal remedies to make sure that they do what they claim to do?

    Yes, Government Regulates
    No, Government Does Not Regulate
    Don't Know

  22. In general, do you think that herbal remedies are adequately tested for safety, purity, or consistency of dosage before being put on the market?

    Yes, Adequately Tested
    No, Not Adequately Tested
    Don't Know

  23. Which ONE of the following statements comes CLOSEST to your opinion?

    Many of the health claims about herbal remedies are just not true.
    In general, herbal remedies DO provide the health benefits that they claim.
    Don't Know/Uncertain

  24. How frequently, if ever, do you think that people get sick from, or are harmed by, herbal remedies?

    Often
    Sometimes 
    Rarely 
    Never
    Don't Know

  25. What is your opinion about government regulation that is designed to ensure that herbal remedies don't harm people who use them?

    There is too much regulation.
    There is the right amount of regulation.
    There is not as much regulation as there should be.
    Don't Know.

  26. What is your opinion about government regulation that is designed to ensure that herbal remedies are pure and that their dosages are consistent?

    There is too much regulation.
    There is the right amount of regulation.
    There is not as much regulation as there should be.
    Don't Know.

  27. What is your opinion about government regulation that is designed to ensure that those health claims made in advertisements for herbal remedies are true?

    There is too much regulation.
    There is the right amount of regulation.
    There is not as much regulation as there should be.
    Don't Know.

  28. Do you think that the government should regulate herbal remedies that are produced for children (under age 16) more strictly than those produced for adults?

    Yes,
    No,
    Don't Know

    Questions 29-36 will help us find out more about what you personally think about medicines.  By "medicines" we mean all tablets, pills, inhalers, liquids, creams, or injections that are PRESCRIBED BY A PHYSICIAN.  Below are statements that people have made about medicines.  Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement.

     

  29. Doctors use too many medicines.

    Strongly Disagree
    Disagree
    Uncertain
    Agree
    Strongly Agree

  30. Every now and then, people who take medicines should stop their treatment for a while?

    Strongly Disagree
    Disagree
    Uncertain
    Agree
    Strongly Agree

  31. Most medicines are addictive.

    Strongly Disagree
    Disagree
    Uncertain
    Agree
    Strongly Agree

  32. Natural remedies are safer than medicines.

    Strongly Disagree
    Disagree
    Uncertain
    Agree
    Strongly Agree

     

  33. Medicines do more harm than good.

    Strongly Disagree
    Disagree
    Uncertain
    Agree
    Strongly Agree

  34. All medicines are poisons.

    Strongly Disagree
    Disagree
    Uncertain
    Agree
    Strongly Agree

  35. Doctors place too much trust on medicines.

    Strongly Disagree
    Disagree
    Uncertain
    Agree
    Strongly Agree

  36. If doctors had more time with their patients, then they would prescribe fewer medicines.

    Strongly Disagree
    Disagree
    Uncertain
    Agree
    Strongly Agree

    Please tell us a little about yourself. 

  37. Are you?

    Female
    Male

  38. How old are you?

    less than 18 years old
    18-25
    26-35
    36-45
    46-55
    56-65
    66-75
    more than 75 years old

  39. What is the first number in your zip code?

    0
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9

  40. How do you describe your ethnicity? (Choose the category that best describes you)


     

    Please tell us how you perceive your health right now.

     

  41. In general, would you say that your health is:

    Excellent
    Very Good
    Good
    Fair
    Poor

  42. I seem to get sick a little easier than other people.

    Definitely True
    Mostly True
    Don't Know
    Mostly False
    Definitely False

  43. I am as healthy as anybody I know.

    Definitely True
    Mostly True
    Don't Know
    Mostly False
    Definitely False

  44. I expect my health to get worse.

    Definitely True
    Mostly True
    Don't Know
    Mostly False
    Definitely False

  45. My health is excellent.

    Definitely True
    Mostly True
    Don't Know
    Mostly False
    Definitely False


    Thank you for your time and your responses!


The questions contained in our survey were adopted from two sources:  1) National Public Radio/Kaiser Family Foundation/Kennedy School of Government Survey on Americans and Dietary Supplements, March 1, 1999 and 2)  the "Medicines in General" section of the Beliefs About Medicines Questionnaire, R. Horne, University of Brighton, UK, 1996.
Lucy Canter Kihlstrom, PhD
Copyright © 2000 Institute for the Study of Healthcare Organizations and Transactions.   All rights reserved.
Revised: March 26, 2004