Figure 1

Prioritization of aspects according to the criteria of Media Doctor Australia in risk communication messages for pharmaceutical products by pharmacovigilance staff at drug companies. Evidence: Where relevant there is mention of the strength of evidence and correct interpretation. Stratification of patients with regard to harm: Mentions which groups of patients are most likely to be harmed. Number of people affected by harm: Some quantification of the number of people or percent of people affected by the harm. Novelty of harm: Mentions whether or not the harm was previously identified or mentions what is added to previous knowledge about it. Quantification of harms: Some quantification of harm in terms of severity. Benefit to harm ratio: Tries to balance reporting of both benefits and harms or gives some sense of the ratio between the two. Sources of information: Provides details on information sources and their potential COI, and reports independent source or mentions unsuccessful attempts to obtain corroboration. Treatment options: Mentions alternatives and discusses whether alternatives are more or less harmful. Each criterion was rated from first to eighth according to its importance in transmitting risk information.