The benefits of prescription information leaflets (1).

Abstract

1 Prescription information leaflets (PILs) giving information about non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ,B-adrenoceptor antagonists and inhaled bronchodilators were evaluated in three small Hampshire towns, while a fourth, in which no leaflets were distributed, acted as a control. 2 Seven hundred and nineteen (82%) patients prescribed one of these medicines agreed to be interviewed in their homes, 1 to 2 weeks after the medicine had been prescribed. Four hundred and nineteen of them had received leaflets, while 300 received no written information. Two hundred and sixty patients received their leaflets from a pharmacist while 159 were given them by their general practitioner. 3 Patients who received leaflets were better informed about every item of knowledge tested, except for the name of the medicine. Awareness of the side effects showed the greatest improvement, but there was no evidence that these leaflets produced spurious side effects. 4 Much improved levels of satisfaction were recorded amongst patients who received leaflets, especially those for NSAIDs (P < 0.001) and for ,B-adrenoceptor antagonists (P < 0.01). 5 Subsequently, three hundred and fifty-eight (77%) of the patients prescribed either a NSAID or a ,3-adrenoceptor antagonist 1 year earlier responded to a postal questionnaire. The benefits in terms of knowledge and satisfaction were still apparent, although less marked than previously. Of the patients still taking P-adrenoceptor antagonists 70% had retained their leaflets over the intervening 12 months. 6 Ninety-seven per cent of patients read their leaflet regardless of whether it was distributed by a general practitioner or pharmacist. However, those who obtained it from a pharmacist tended to be more knowledgeable and satisfied. 7 We conclude that patients welcome the idea of receiving PILs. They improve patients' knowledge of how to take their medicines correctly and their awareness of potential side effects. Importantly, patients who receive leaflets are more satisfied than those who do not. These overall benefits justify the use of leaflets on a routine basis.

A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative research on the role and effectiveness of written information available to patients about individual medicines

“…82 No trials reported an adequate means of concealing the randomisation process from the treatment provider, while four reported using an inadequate method. 34,79,84,86 Adequate blinding of the outcome assessor was reported in six trials. 34,78,80,81,84,86 Loss to follow-up, reported in eight trials, averaged 21%.…”

“…34,78,85,97,99 The source of funding was reported in 16 trials. 79,81,[83][84][85]87,88,[95][96][97]99,100,103,104,106,107 Eleven trials were funded by a national funding body, four were funded by a charitable organisation and two were funded by a pharmaceutical company. One trial received joint funding from both a research council and pharmaceutical company.…”

“…34,[78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86] They enrolled 1821 participants (range: 34-719) who were currently receiving treatment, and all interventions were based on the provision of information for an actual medicine (rather than one that was fictitious).…”

Avaliação da legibilidade de folhetos informativos e literacia em saúde

“…The present study corroborates the disparities between the results of the tests of readability of the written materials and the results of health literacy of potential users of those leafl ets. 9 Although almost all of the recent studies are focused on the description of information gaps on the PL or in its low impact on changing the behavior of its users, 2 there seems to be no effective substitute for these pieces of written information, mandatory for drugs marketed in Europe. Thus, it would be appropriate to develop procedures for assessing readability that controlled the effect of variations in health literacy simultaneously, also performing an assessment of the acquisition of the knowledge acquired by reading the PL.…”

“…4 One of the most important written materials that users receive about the use of drugs is the respective package leafl et (PL). 2 All medicinal products placed on the Community market in the European Union are required to be accompanied by labeling and package leafl et, which must provide a set of comprehensible information enabling the use of the medicinal product safely and appropriately, complementing the information provided by health professionals. Although it…”