Patients Comprehension of Pharmaceutical Package Inserts Information in Karachi, Pakistan

Rahim, Najia; Rafiq, Kiran; Iffat, Wajiha; Nesar, Shagufta; Shakeel, Sadia

doi:10.4314/tjpr.v14i12.22

Cited by 9 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…29 Self-reported reading of leaflets provided with medicines shows considerable variation across studies; for example, 91% claimed to read PILs in a survey in Nigeria, 30 while studies in Pakistan have reported that between 23% and 61% never read PIs. 31 More than half of the respondents in our study (61%) claimed to always read the leaflets they received and 81% if it was the first time of use, which was slightly higher compared to the UK, where 71% of first-time medicine users read the PIL. 29 The contents of PIs that our respondents usually read were the same as those considered necessary sections in the PILs, which were indication, drug name and precautions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

<p>Experiences and Views of Medicine Information Among the General Public in Thailand</p>

Wongtaweepkij

Krska

Pongwecharak

et al. 2020

PPA

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Purpose: Written and electronic medicine information are important for improving patient knowledge and safe use of medicines. Written medicine information in Thailand is mostly in the form of printed package inserts (PIs), designed for health professionals, with few medicines having patient information leaflets (PILs). The aim of this study was to determine practices, needs and expectations of Thai general public about written and electronic medicine information and attitudes towards PILs. Patients and Methods: Cross-sectional survey, using self-completed questionnaires, was distributed directly to members of the general public in a large city, during January to March 2019. It explored experiences of using information, expectations, needs and attitudes, the latter measured using a 10-item scale. Differences between subgroups were assessed, applying the Bonferroni correction to determine statistical significance. Results: Of the total 851 questionnaires distributed, 550 were returned (64.2%). The majority of respondents (88%) had received PIs, but only a quarter (26.2%) had received PILs. Most respondents (78.5%) had seen medicine information in online form. High educational level and income increased the likelihood of receiving PILs and electronic information. The majority of respondents (88.5%) perceived PILs as useful, but 70% considered they would still need information about medicines from health professionals. Indication, drug name and precautions were the most frequently read information in PIs and perceived as needed in PILs. Three-quarters of respondents would read electronic information if it were available, with more who had received a PIL having previously searched for such information compared to those who had not. All respondents had positive overall attitudes towards PILs. Conclusion: Experiences of receiving PILs and electronic medicine information in Thailand are relatively limited. However, the general public considered PILs as a useful source of medicine information. Electronic medicine information was desired and should be developed to be an additional source of information for consumers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

<p>Experiences and Views of Medicine Information Among the General Public in Thailand</p>

Wongtaweepkij

Krska

Pongwecharak

et al. 2020

PPA

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“…The cohesion and the harmony of information available in PPIs affects patient compliance and faith in taking or rejecting the drug [2, 3]. Moreover, patients who read PPIs are found to have an increasing level of awareness and knowledge about drugs issue [4]. Despite all efforts, PPIs still reflect major drawbacks, as patients may feel frightened from the listed drug side effects in PPI and have confusion while reading medical jargon [5, 6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparative evaluation of medicine package inserts for oral antidiabetic agents in Palestine

2019

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Background Patient package inserts (PPIs) should provide accurate, sufficient, and clear information for patients as well as health care professionals. The goal of this study was to evaluate and compare the PPIs of local and imported anti-diabetic agents in the Palestinian market. Methods Eighteen leaflets were collected and analysed based on the completeness of 31 criteria using a scoring method, then the quantity of information was assessed by applying word counting of 17 headings and subheadings. Statistical comparisons of the word count for all products were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test with mean ranks. Then the mean ranks for differences in word counts were adjusted to calculate the fold-difference statistic by dividing the higher mean rank by the lower mean rank. Results In general, the PPIs of imported agents scored better than local PPIs, but none of the inserts fulfilled the whole criteria. Thirteen out of thirty-one criteria were available in all products. None of these agents had provided any information about duration of use, instructions to convert tablets into liquids forms, pharmacokinetics, or shelf life. Moreover, mechanism of action and maximum dose were deficient in all local PPIs (0.0%), while they were included in 37.5 and 62.5% of imported PPIs, respectively. Furthermore, 90.0% of local PPIs lacked information about drug dose, 80.0% didn’t mention any instructions regarding effects on ability to drive or possibility of tablet splitting, and 60.0% didn’t involve orders about possibility of tablet crushing. Local PPIs provided inadequate and less detailed instructions regarding many aspects, since the estimated mean rank of local and imported PPIs demonstrated a range of difference from 1.04-fold for missing dose to 2.64-fold for warning and precautions. Conclusions Significant differences were being identified, with excellence being assigned to imported PPIs. So, it is worth suggesting some necessary modifications in PPI topography and sequence structure of local diabetic agents. Experts in Palestinian Ministry of Health should implement regulatory guidelines to improve the quality and quantity of information provided by local PPIs. This optimisation could become a step forward toward optimal health practice in our society.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two surveys were found from Pakistan, involving a total of 923 people [ 63 , 64 ]. One found that 23% did not read PIs at all, 24% had difficulty reading them, 30% lacked understanding and half wanted PIs in the local language [ 63 ]. The second found that only 29% had received written information, 67% of whom read it, but many had problems with technical terms, language and font size [ 6 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study from Sri Lanka also found that some of the 100 PIs assessed lacked important information [68], while the Bangladeshi study was more limited, assessing 150 leaflets only for drug-drug interaction information [69]. Two surveys were found from Pakistan, involving a total of 923 people [63,64]. One found that 23% did not read PIs at all, 24% had difficulty reading them, 30% lacked understanding and half wanted PIs in the local language [63].…”

Section: South Asiamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Provision and Need for Medicine Information in Asia and Africa: A Scoping Review of the Literature

2021

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Published reviews of written medicine information (WMI) have mainly drawn on studies published in high-income countries, including very few Asian or African studies. We therefore set out to scope the research literature to determine the extent and type of studies concerning WMI for patients/consumers across these two continents. We sought empirical studies published between January 2004 and December 2019, conducted in any Asian or African country, as defined by the United Nations, in English or with an English abstract. The majority of the 923 papers identified were from high-income countries. We retained 26 papers from Africa and 99 from Asia. Most African studies (n = 20) involved patients in the development of PILs, in the assessment of the effectiveness of PILs or in surveys. In contrast, the highest proportion of Asian studies concerned the content of WMI (n = 42). WMI is desired, but needs to be in local languages, and there needs to be more use made of pre-tested pictograms. Existing WMI frequently does not meet local regulatory requirements, particularly locally manufactured products. A number of studies reported potentially positive impacts of providing WMI on knowledge and medicine use behaviours. Provision of medicine information is essential for safe use of medicines in all countries. Internationally agreed guidelines, incorporating good design principles, are needed to ensure the optimal content and design of WMI. The World Health Organization should support African and Asian regulatory bodies to share best practice in relation to WMI for patients/consumers and to develop and implement pan-continental guidelines that take into account consumer needs and preferences.

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Patients Comprehension of Pharmaceutical Package Inserts Information in Karachi, Pakistan

Cited by 9 publications

References 15 publications

<p>Experiences and Views of Medicine Information Among the General Public in Thailand</p>

<p>Experiences and Views of Medicine Information Among the General Public in Thailand</p>

A comparative evaluation of medicine package inserts for oral antidiabetic agents in Palestine

Provision and Need for Medicine Information in Asia and Africa: A Scoping Review of the Literature

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