Table 2.

Quotes from focus group discussions

THEME	QUOTES
Belief in the importance of taking medications for osteoporosis	Has prevented fractures: “I have fallen many, many times. Around my house it’s been very icy. You don’t believe how many times I fell. I haven’t broken one bone yet. And I have osteoporosis [laughing]; you know you read that you break your bones very easily. Not for me!” Could prevent fractures: “ I don’t understand. If you’ve got something that’s going to improve your health I don’t know why anyone would not take it [osteoporosis medication] … and falling and finding myself in bed with broken bones, it just doesn’t appeal to me.”
Medication-specific factors	Needing to take medication on an empty stomach: “The thing I don’t like about [the medication] is when I get up in the morning, give me that coffee now! And I wait and I’m drinking the water and I’m watching the clock and I’m waiting and I just don’t like that.” “If I could have taken it [osteoporosis medication] with everything else, fine. But I’d get up and say ah, I forgot, and then I’d think well okay, [I’ll take it] 2 hours after the meal and then I’d forget again.” “I think it’s partially a problem with the digestive tract because it’s [osteoporosis medication] hard on your stomach. The reason I was late taking it this week is because I had the flu on Friday when I was supposed to take it and my stomach was so upset so I didn’t take it until this morning.”
Beliefs regarding medications and health	“I’ve always been healthy, and I’ve never had to take medication, so having to take medication is like reaffirming you’re getting older and there’s a psychological aspect to that.” “If something, just even taking a pill helps, why not, right? It’s much easier than changing your whole lifestyle [laughing]. It’s kind of convenient too; you take a pill and hope for the best.” “I would like to come off it and wouldn’t like to be on it for a lifetime because even though they start off with glowing recommendations, they often decide later, oh that drug has serious side effects and you shouldn’t be on it.”
Relationships with health care providers	“He prescribed it and I have a high regard for this specialist and whatever he suggested I was quite willing to comply.” “Yes, well I’m sort of accepting the fact now that [physicians] must feel that that’s not what they’re there for [providing information about medications].”
Information exchange	“Even going to the specialist this week, I only took in a small portion of what he said. So I can’t imagine a lay person being able to absorb everything about medication. You don’t have the language and you don’t have the knowledge, and it’s very scary.” “I have found when I go to have my prescription filled I ask for it [medication information]. I say I want printouts and it’s just a matter of, I feel I’m responsible for my medication too and I ask for a printout.”