Biomaterial Database

Educating patients about their medications: the potential and limitations of written drug information. 2007

William H Shrank, and Jerry Avorn

Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. wshrank@partners.org

Drug information on labels and inserts is a major source of knowledge for patients as they attempt to balance the risks and benefits of drugs and administer them safely. Yet this information is often inconsistent, incomplete, and difficult for patients to read and understand. We reviewed the numerous sources of written prescription drug information, the regulations that govern their content and format and the lack of oversight in the process, and the history that led to this system. We suggest that oversight and standards are needed so that written drug information can serve as a coherent and organized system to educate patients.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007722	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice	Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL).	Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D010174	Pamphlets	Printed publications usually having a format with no binding and no cover and having fewer than some set number of pages. They are often devoted to a single subject.	Booklets,Brochures,Booklet,Brochure,Pamphlet
D010353	Patient Education as Topic	The teaching or training of patients concerning their own health needs.	Education of Patients,Education, Patient,Patient Education
D010817	Physician-Patient Relations	The interactions between physician and patient.	Doctor-Patient Relations,Doctor Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relationship,Doctor Patient Relation,Doctor-Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relationships,Physician-Patient Relation,Relation, Doctor Patient,Relation, Doctor-Patient,Relation, Physician Patient,Relation, Physician-Patient,Relations, Doctor Patient,Relations, Doctor-Patient,Relations, Physician Patient,Relations, Physician-Patient,Relationship, Physician Patient,Relationships, Physician Patient
D004348	Drug Labeling	Use of written, printed, or graphic materials upon or accompanying a drug container or wrapper. It includes contents, indications, effects, dosages, routes, methods, frequency and duration of administration, warnings, hazards, contraindications, side effects, precautions, and other relevant information.	Labeling, Drug,Package Inserts, Drug,Product Labeling, Drug,Black Box Warning,Boxed Warning,Drug Labelling,Black Box Warnings,Box Warning, Black,Box Warnings, Black,Boxed Warnings,Drug Package Insert,Drug Package Inserts,Drug Product Labeling,Insert, Drug Package,Inserts, Drug Package,Labeling, Drug Product,Labelling, Drug,Package Insert, Drug,Warning, Black Box,Warning, Boxed,Warnings, Black Box,Warnings, Boxed
D004522	Educational Status	Educational attainment or level of education of an individual.	Education Level,Educational Achievement,Educational Attainment,Educational Level,Level of Education,Maternal Education Level,Maternal Educational Attainment,Maternal Educational Level,Paternal Education Level,Paternal Educational Attainment,Paternal Educational Level,Achievement, Educational,Educational Status, Maternal,Educational Status, Paternal,Maternal Educational Status,Paternal Educational Status,Status, Educational,Attainment, Educational,Attainment, Maternal Educational,Attainment, Paternal Educational,Education Level, Maternal,Education Level, Paternal,Education Levels,Educational Achievements,Educational Attainment, Maternal,Educational Attainment, Paternal,Educational Attainments,Educational Level, Maternal,Educational Level, Paternal,Educational Levels,Level, Education,Level, Educational,Level, Maternal Education,Level, Maternal Educational,Level, Paternal Education,Level, Paternal Educational,Levels, Maternal Educational,Maternal Education Levels,Maternal Educational Attainments,Maternal Educational Levels,Paternal Education Levels,Paternal Educational Attainments,Paternal Educational Levels,Status, Maternal Educational,Status, Paternal Educational
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D014486	United States Food and Drug Administration	An agency of the PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE concerned with the overall planning, promoting, and administering of programs pertaining to maintaining standards of quality of foods, drugs, therapeutic devices, etc.	Food and Drug Administration (U.S.),USFDA,Food and Drug Administration,United States Food, Drug Administration
D033161	Government Regulation	Exercise of governmental authority to control conduct.	Government Regulation and Oversight,Government Regulations,Regulation, Government,Regulations, Government