Journal
MEDICAL CARE
Volume 49, Issue 1, Pages 96-100Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e3181f38174
Keywords
prescription; medication; comprehension; patient; labels; safety; health literacy
Categories
Funding
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [R01 HS017687, R01 HS019435]
- Target Corporation
- AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY [R01HS017687, R01HS019435] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE [K23HL090505] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING [K23AG028439] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of standardized, patient-centered label (PCL) instructions to improve comprehension of prescription drug use compared with typical instructions. Methods: A total of 500 adult patients recruited from 2 academic and 2 community primary care clinics in Chicago, IL and Shreveport, LA were assigned to receive as follows: (1) standard prescription instructions written as times per day (once, twice 3 times per day) (usual care), (2) PCL instructions that specify explicit timing with standard intervals (morning, noon, evening, bedtime) (PCL), or (3) PCL instructions with a graphic aid to visually depict dose and timing of the medication (PCL + Graphic). The outcome was correct interpretation of label instructions. Results: Instructions with the PCL format were more likely to be correctly interpreted compared with standard instructions (adjusted relative risk [RR] : 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] : 1.25-1.41). Inclusion of the graphic aid (PCL + Graphic) decreased rates of correct interpretation compared with PCL instructions alone (RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89-0.97). Patients with low literacy were better able to interpret PCL instructions (low literacy: RR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.14 -1.68; P = 0.001). Conclusion: The PCL approach could improve patients' understanding and use of their medication regimen.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available