Development of a Patient-Centered Bilingual Prescription Drug Label

Abstract

Research shows that prescription drug labels are often difficult for patients to understand, which contributes to medication errors and nonadherence. In this study, the authors developed and qualitatively evaluated an evidence-based bilingual prescription container label designed to improve understanding. The authors developed several prototypes in English only or in English and Spanish. The labels included an image of the drug, an icon to show its purpose, and plain-language instructions presented in a 4-time-of-day table. In 5 focus groups and interviews that included 57 participants, patients and pharmacists critically reviewed the designs and compared them with traditional medication labels and reformatted labels without illustrations. Patients strongly preferred labels that grouped patient-relevant content, highlighted key information, and included drug indication icons. They also preferred having the 4-time-of-day table and plain-language text instructions as opposed to either one alone. Patients preferred having pertinent warnings on the main label instead of auxiliary labels. Pharmacists and Latino patients valued having Spanish and English instructions on the label, so both parties could understand the content. The final label design adheres to the latest national- and state-level recommendations for label format and incorporates additional improvements on the basis of patient and pharmacist input. This design may serve as a prototype for improving prescription drug labeling.

A Patient-Centered Prescription Drug Label to Promote Appropriate Medication Use and Adherence

“…However, a number of earlier studies support the acceptability and preference of the many patient-centered modifications under study. [34][35][36] The majority of patients did not receive a benefit from the PCL, but in no instance did we find that it performed worse than standard labeling. As the intervention involved subtle modifications to pharmacy-generated labeling that could be readily put into practice, set to scale, even small increases in proper use and adherence among subgroups of consumers might yield a cost benefit.…”

Improving pediatric liquid medication labeling of the hospital information system in Malaysia: qualitative analysis of pharmacists’ perceptions

“…Besides, suggestions made to maintain the use of “mL” as the measurement unit and four time points to denote times for administration are consistent with those of prior studies. 19 , 35 This study has also provided a new perspective on presenting fractions, suggesting that doses should not be unnecessarily presented in multiple decimal places. Effectiveness of pictographs incorporated into written instructions to improve medication safety is supported by the existing literature; however, it is important to avoid the use of complex images.…”

“… 21 In parallel with previous findings, the participants also emphasized the need for judiciously using spacing and capitalization to improve legibility of drug labels. 21 , 33 , 34 , 35 …”

Inattentiveness to Warnings and Precautions on Prescription Drug Labels among Malaysian Adult Patients: The Influence of Polypharmacy

“…[2,3] Therefore, in Malaysia, a number of public hospitals have been using the e-Hospital Information System (e-HIS) to assist in dispensing medications, with all drug-related information, including warnings and precautions, printed on a same label. [4] Although a US study also demonstrated that patients preferred having pertinent warnings and precautions presented on the main labels rather than on auxiliary labels, [5] such information could still be easily overlooked due to the lack of awareness.…”