Labeling of Medicines and Patient Safety: Evaluating Methods of Reducing Drug Name Confusion

Abstract

The use of tall man letters could be applied in a variety of visual presentations of drug names--for example, by manufacturers on packaging, labeling, and computer software, and in pharmacies on shelf labels. Additionally, this paper demonstrates two meaningful behavioral measures that can be used during product design to objectively assess confusability of packaging and labeling.

Quality Use of Medicines – medication safety issues in naming; look-alike, sound-alike medicine names

“…[43] Some research looks at the use of 'tall-man' letters; that is, uppercase letters, to differentiate sections of drug names that may sound or look alike. [39,45] An example from the Australian national tall-man lettering list aims to differentiate cefUROXime, cefOTAXime, and cefTAZIDime. [46] Research suggests that tall-man letters do not make names less confusable in memory but do make similar names easier to distinguish -if participants are aware that this is the purpose of the uppercase letters.…”

“…[46] Research suggests that tall-man letters do not make names less confusable in memory but do make similar names easier to distinguish -if participants are aware that this is the purpose of the uppercase letters. [39] Other research suggests that tall-man letters can reduce the number of errors made in selecting a target medicine when faced with an array of medication packs. [40] Tall-man lettering has been reported to reduce medication name confusion in a number of different groups of people, of different ages and professions, in laboratorybased tasks.…”

Método visual para revisão sistemática em Design com base em conceitos da Mineração de Dados

“…Os "temas relacionados" totalizaram 21 (vinte e um) artigos. Destes, 4 (quatro) apresentavam relação direta com o tema da pesquisa, ou seja, tratavam de estudos que envolvem elementos de design, de embalagem ou de rotulagem de medicamentos que se enquadravam em práticas aplicáveis a abordagem no contexto hospitalar ou mencionam esta : Chang, Lai e Chen (2012);Ward, Buckle e Clarkson (2010);Filik et al (2006), Buckle et al (2 [2]. Estes artigos foram, então, separados para posterior uso na etapa seguinte, a (v) utilização do conhecimento, quando os textos coletados foram parte integrante de uma fundamentação teórica.…”

Medicines labelling

“…22 Presenting similar drug names in a novel format may act as a warning about the risk of confusion associated with these products and help prevent product selection errors by health professionals. 22,23 Tall man lettering was recommended by the Food and Drug Administration in the USA for 16 products with confusable names.…”