Dispensed Medications: Labeling Patterns and Patient Knowledge at a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

The label on dispensed medicines should provide the patient with clear and complete instructions on how to take the drugs. Without sufficient knowledge about risks and benefits of using medicines, people will often not receive the expected clinical outcomes and may suffer adverse effects. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of labeling and patient knowledge of dispensed drugs in Jimma University Specialized Hospital. A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted from January 19 to February 24, 2009. Quality of labeling was assessed by calculating the mean labeling scores. The patient knowledge scores were obtained from patient recall of knowledge indicators. Mean dispensing and dispensing counseling was calculated. A total of 640 drugs were prescribed for 384 patients, and 544 (85.0%) were actually dispensed. The mean labeling score of the dispensed drugs was found to be 3.3 out of 7 essential dispensing quality attributes. All of the dispensed drugs were labeled with their generic name, while no drug was labeled with the patient's name. The remaining labeling attributes such as strength (91.9%), duration of treatment (57.4%), frequency (47.4%), dose (38.6%), and amount of the drugs (15.8%) were written on dispensed drugs. The mean patient knowledge score was 3.7 out of 7. Routes of administration (100.0%), dose (96.1%), frequency (95.5%), reason for prescribing (89.3%), duration of treatment (49.6%), and name of medicine (15.1%) were recalled among the dispensed drugs. The mean dispensing and dispensing counseling times were found to be 130.2 and 29.2 seconds, respectively. Patients' knowledge was satisfactory. However, labeling of dispensed drugs was the main problem identified. Dispensing counseling time was also too short to allow for optimal information to be given on drugs and answering questions from patients.

Exit-Knowledge of Ambulatory Patients About Medications Dispensed in Government Hospital in Eastern Ethiopia: The Need for Focused Patient Counseling

“…Similarly, a research conducted at Jimma University Specialized Hospital showed that the mean patients' exit knowledge score was found to be 3.7 out of 7. Routes of administration (100.0%), dose (96.1%), frequency (95.5%), indication (89.3%), duration of therapy (49.6%), and the name of medicine (15.1%) were recalled among the dispensed drugs ( 15 ).…”

Factors affecting patients’ knowledge about dispensed medicines: A Qualitative study of healthcare professionals and patients in Pakistan

“…Patients aged ≥18 years were approached consecutively outside the pharmacies and their consent to participate in the study was obtained after explaining the nature of the study to them. A checklist consisting of key indicators to assess the knowledge of the patients (about their dispensed medications) was developed for recruiting patients ( Box 1 ) [ 18 ]. Patients were considered unaware of the use of dispensed medicines if they had insufficient knowledge about one or more indicators.…”

Effects of Labelling Quality on Hypertensive Patients’ Knowledge and Adherence in Mataram

“…13 Kualitas pelabelan yang digunakan saat ini di Puskesmas dinilai sebagai baseline; masing-masing jenis informasi yang ada dalam label diberi skor=1 dan skor=0 jika tidak ada, sehingga diperoleh skor maksimum sebesar 9. 7,16 Untuk mengukur pengetahuan terhadap informasi pada label, dikembangkan sebuah kuesioner yang terdiri atas 6 kategori, meliputi: 1) pengetahuan terhadap nama obat, 2) kekuatan (mg), 3) dosis, kuantitas, frekuensi, 4) cara pemakaian, 5) perhatian khusus (efek samping, interaksi), dan 6) tanggal kedaluwarsa. Untuk masing-masing kategori, diberikan skor=1 jika pasien mengetahui informasi tersebut, dan skor=0 jika pasien tidak mengetahui informasi tersebut, sehingga diperoleh skor maksimum sebesar 6.…”

“…Untuk masing-masing kategori, diberikan skor=1 jika pasien mengetahui informasi tersebut, dan skor=0 jika pasien tidak mengetahui informasi tersebut, sehingga diperoleh skor maksimum sebesar 6. 7,16 Uji validitas rupa dilakukan pada 20 pasien untuk memastikan bahwa pertanyaan dapat dipahami.…”