Medication Tips
Mind Your Foods and Drinks:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about any foods or beverages that could possibly have a negative impact on the effectiveness of your medications. Remember that some drugs need to be taken with food, while others are supposed to be taken on an empty stomach.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the survey
- How often do I need to take the survey?
- How long will the survey take me to complete?
- Can I stop in the middle of the survey and come back later to finish it?
- Will there be reminders to help me remember when to take the survey each month?
- What should I do if I am travelling or not near a computer when I am supposed to take my monthly survey?
- If I have a question about the survey while taking it online or I am confused how to respond to a question, what should I do?
- Will my physician and/or pharmacist be made aware of my responses to the survey?
About the security of my personal health information:
- What happens to the health information that I enter as part of the monthly surveys?
- Does my health information remain protected while I participate in NMSOAP?
About enrollment registration and logging-in:
- How long does NMSOAP registration and enrollment take?
- May I withdraw my participation in this program at any time?
About coordination with your health care provider or pharmacist:
- I learned about NMSOAP and mentioned it to my healthcare provider, but he/she was not aware of it. Can I still participate?
- Once the NMSOAP study is completed, will my doctor, my pharmacist, or I be able to see the overall results of the study that I participated in?
- Will I get medical advice or treatment recommendations from NMSOAP participation?
Miscellaneous:
- Do I receive payment for my participation in NMSOAP?
- What should I do if I have trouble logging in to NMSOAP and/or have forgotten my password?
About the survey:
1. How often do I need to take the survey?
You will be asked to complete a survey each month for up to a one year time period. Survey questions will be generally focused on your use of medications, your health outcomes, and if you have experienced any side effects.
2. How long will the survey take me to complete?
Most participants are able to complete the survey in 5-10 minutes. The monthly survey is approximately 20 questions long and includes specific questions about how you are feeling, how often you are taking your medications, and any side effects you may or may not be experiencing. Surveys can be taken online (computer, smart phone or tablet), via a phone call with a representative from NMSOAP, or in some cases at your local pharmacy or physician's office.
3. Can I stop in the middle of the survey and come back later to finish it?
Yes, data are automatically saved as you go. For example, if your phone rings in the middle of the survey, you can exit the survey then come back later to finish.
4. Will there be reminders to help me remember when to take the survey each month?
Yes, you will have the choice to sign up for reminder emails, text messages or phone calls.
5. What should I do if I am travelling or not near a computer when I am supposed to take my monthly survey?
If you are traveling or otherwise occupied, you have the opportunity to call NMSOAP or login to your NMSOAP account and reschedule the date of your survey. For your convenience, the survey can be easily taken on a smart phone or tablet as well as on a computer. Participants also have the option of completing the survey via a phone call with a representative from NMSOAP or, in some cases, at your local pharmacy. You have a week-long "window" each month in which to take your survey. If ultimately you are unable to complete your survey in a given month because of travel or other issues, please log-in when you return and you can select a new date to re-start your surveys.
6. If I have a question about the survey while taking it online or I am confused how to respond to a question, what should I do?
The toll-free NMSOAP help line, 800.557.2702, will be available to answer any questions you may have.
7. Will my physician and/or pharmacist be made aware of my responses to the survey?
Yes, your personal survey responses will be provided to the healthcare provider who enrolled you. As such, your healthcare provider has access to the surveys that you complete. In contrast, when your survey responses are uploaded to the aggregated NMSOAP database, your personal information will be removed and your responses loaded anonymously. In this manner, your personal survey responses cannot be tracked you by anyone accessing the database. Learn more about how NMSOAP protects your privacy.
About the security of my personal health information:
8. What happens to the health information that I enter as part of the monthly surveys?
When your individual survey responses and health information are uploaded to the NMSOAP database, the data will be de-identified (loaded anonymously) and aggregated (combined) with data and inputs from thousands of other participants to show any emerging trends and patterns in a medication’s use, safety, and associated health outcomes. Once uploaded to the NMSOAP database, no responses or health record information are specifically identified with you. Rather, the focus of the NMSOAP is to identify overall trends and patterns based on the inputs and voices of thousands of anonymous participating patients. Learn more about how we protect your privacy.
9. Does my health information remain protected while I participate in NMSOAP?
Yes. All data uploaded to the secure NMSOAP database are protected from unauthorized use at all times.
About enrollment registration and logging-in:
10. How long does NMSOAP registration and enrollment take?
Once the initial sign-up is completed by your physician or pharmacist, most participants are able to complete registration in just a few minutes.
11. May I withdraw my participation in this program at any time?
Yes. While we certainly hope that participants will complete the monthly surveys over a 6 – 12 month time period, you may withdraw your participation at any time by calling NMSOAP: 800.557.2702 (toll-free).
About coordination with your health care provider or pharmacist:
12. I learned about NMSOAP and mentioned it to my healthcare provider, but he/she was not aware of it. Can I still participate?
Yes. This website has an information section specifically for healthcare providers. Additionally, they can email inquiry@NMSOAP.com, and we will contact them with information about the NMSOAP program.
13. Once the NMSOAP study is completed, will my doctor, my pharmacist, or I be able to see the overall results of the study that I participated in?
Yes. Once all of the survey information of participating patients is collected and analyzed, the results will be shared with you and with your healthcare provider.
14. Will I get medical advice or treatment recommendations from NMSOAP participation?
No. All medical advice, recommendations and treatment will only be provided by your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare provider.
Miscellaneous:
15. Do I receive payment for my participation in NMSOAP?
No payment is provided. The NMSOAP is a voluntary program in which you have the opportunity to directly impact your own healthcare. Since thousands of other patients very similar to you are participating in NMSOAP, you – along with them – can help expand the medical community’s understanding of how patients feel on the medications you take and why you and others like you do or do not take certain medications as prescribed. Your experiences and insights can help advance patient safety and improve health outcomes.
16. What should I do if I have trouble logging in to NMSOAP and/or have forgotten my password?
There is a "reset password" option from the "Take the Survey" log-in screen.