Biomaterial Database

Patient package insert readability and design. 1994

L R Basara, and J P Juergens

University of Mississippi.

As the popularity of self-medication and direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs increases, the quality, availability, and utility of current patient information strategies become key concerns for pharmacists. It has been suggested that patient package inserts (PPIs) are a high-quality source of information for patients. To determine if this is true, 63 PPIs from three types of sources were assessed for readability and design. Suggested readability level is fifth-to-seventh grade. The PPIs studied had, on average, a 10th-grade reading level. Design characteristics, such as type size and paper quality--which affect patients' likelihood of using the PPI and keeping it for reference--were poorest in PPIs produced by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Overall, associations produce the best PPIs, with commercial vendors and pharmaceutical manufacturers following. However, both readability and design evaluations showed that all PPIs need improvement. Design and testing of new PPI formats and a reassessment of readability are recommended.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010595	Pharmacists	Those persons legally qualified by education and training to engage in the practice of pharmacy.	Clinical Pharmacists,Community Pharmacists,Retail Pharmacists,Clinical Pharmacist,Community Pharmacist,Pharmacist,Pharmacist, Clinical,Pharmacist, Community,Pharmacist, Retail,Pharmacists, Clinical,Pharmacists, Community,Pharmacists, Retail,Retail Pharmacist
D011307	Drug Prescriptions	Directions written for the obtaining and use of DRUGS.	Drug Prescribing,Drug Prescription,Drug Prescribings,Prescribing, Drug,Prescribings, Drug
D011932	Reading	Acquiring information from text.
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
D004867	Equipment Design	Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware.	Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012651	Self Medication	The self administration of medication not prescribed by a physician or in a manner not directed by a physician.	Medication, Self,Medications, Self,Self Medications