User testing to examine patient understanding of pharmacy generated medication labels

Guo, Mengran; Carter, S R; Lau, E; Rimington, Joanne; Babu, C. S. J.; Penm, Jonathan

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2020.04.015

Cited by 7 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Unfortunately, OTC labels present technical terms with a high degree of difficulty, making it difficult to understand the information in them. This result is in line with a previous systematic narrative review (Boon and Bozinovski, 2019) and empirical research (Pires and Cavaco, 2014; Manchanayake et al , 2018; Guo et al , 2020; Kapp et al , 2020). Moreover, most of the consumers interviewed, especially the illiterate ones, did not know the words “meniscus,” “mucolytic,” “constipation,” “nephritis” and “hematuria.”…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 92%

“…The definition of the “label comprehension” construct is the ability of the consumer to read and interpret the information provided and to use the medication safely (Guo et al , 2020; Calamusa et al , 2012). It refers to the competence to follow instructions correctly and to know when to ask for help from a health-care professional.…”

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Understanding labels for poorly literate individuals should be viewed more carefully as individuals face difficulty in understanding medication warnings prescribed by physicians (Cohen et al , 2020; Karačić et al , 2019; Davis et al , 2006; Viswanathan et al , 2005). However, when instructions are presented step-by-step, the understanding of label warning improves, demonstrating that warning labels should take into account the participation of consumers, especially those with low literacy to ensure a higher level of understanding (Guo et al , 2020).…”

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The labeling should provide information on how to use the medicinal product, warn of possible harmful effects and provide instructions on the appropriate duration of treatment and when the consumer should seek medical advice. These instructions should be readily understood by ordinary consumers, including those with a lower educational level (Guo et al , 2020).…”

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Label understanding refers to the ability of the consumer to read and interpret the information present and to use the medication safely, follow instructions correctly and to know when to seek help from a health professional (Guo et al , 2020). Understanding the instructions given on labels and package inserts relates not only to reading skills, but also to health literacy (Cohen et al , 2020; Guo et al , 2020; Berkman et al , 2014) defined as the ability of consumers to obtain, process and understand the information and services necessary to make appropriate health-related decisions (Sørensen et al , 2012; Berkman et al , 2014). According to Paakkari and Okan (2020), poor health literacy in a population is an underestimated public health problem globally.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vulnerability of poorly literate adult consumers regarding over-the-counter drugs

Bernardes

Mattoso

Bouzada

et al. 2020

IJPHM

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Purpose This study aims at verifying the impact of literacy on over-the-counter (OTC) drug consumer vulnerability as evaluated by health literacy and label comprehension. Design/methodology/approach The item response theory (IRT) was used to estimate the health literacy of two groups and the two-way analysis of variance tests was used to test the hypotheses for the existence of mean differences between the two populations. The convenience sample involved 188 OTC consumers: 94 (50%) poorly literate and 94 (50%) university students/graduates. Findings University consumers/graduates have a level of health literacy and label comprehension that is superior to those presented by poor literate consumers. Also, age does not influence the level of health literacy by OTC drug users but has a significant impact on the understanding of OTC drug labels. Finally, the level of schooling and the “age group,” simultaneously, does not impact the understanding of OTC drug labels or health literacy. Research limitations/implications This study has added in the field of knowledge by investigating the behavior of poor literate consumers in Brazil, a developing country. The results may be relevant to Marketing professionals, especially those in the pharmaceutical industry, and to police makers, as they help identify the main problems faced by poorly literate consumers. Practical implications It is necessary to raise awareness of the dangers of self-medication and wrong use of medications, mainly focused on people with low literacy. As a suggestion, a simple glossary presented along with the label could provide explanations of scientific terms, thus increasing health literacy and reducing the vulnerability of the consumers. Social implications This study showed that when using common words such as gastritis to define a health problem, there is a higher degree of correctness. These results suggest the adoption of a more straightforward language and more precise explanations. By doing that, the pharmaceutical industry and policymakers will improve their social impact by increasing consumer power and taking care of the health of the most vulnerable population: the illiterate people. Originality/value This study contributes to the international literature, as it enhances and clarifies the knowledge about the customers’ power and vulnerability in developing countries. It fills a gap by evaluating label comprehension and heath literacy at the same time, giving an academic contribution for pharmaceutical consumers’ studies.

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