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Written information about individual medicines for consumers
Donald Nicolson1, Peter Knapp, D K Theo Raynor
1School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK, LS2 9LN.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|April 17, 2009
Summary
Written patient information may improve medicine knowledge, but evidence is limited. More high-quality trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of medicine information leaflets and online resources for patients.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Patient Education
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Medicines are a primary health intervention requiring adequate patient information.
- Patients need information on safe and effective medicine use, potential harms, benefits, and informed decision-making.
- Written medicine information, including leaflets and online resources, aims to meet these informational needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of written information on patient knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and health outcomes related to prescribed and over-the-counter medicines.
- To assess the effectiveness of providing written information about individual medicines.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted.
- Searches included multiple databases up to March 2007, handsearching, and expert consultation.
- Included RCTs compared written medicine information with no information or different styles of information, measuring knowledge, attitudinal, or behavioral outcomes.
Main Results:
- Twenty-five RCTs involving 4788 participants were included.
- Six of twelve trials indicated that written information significantly improved medicine knowledge compared to no information.
- Results for attitudinal and behavioral outcomes were mixed, with no adverse effects reported.
Conclusions:
- The overall evidence is insufficient to definitively conclude on the effectiveness of written medicine information for changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
- Some evidence suggests written information can enhance patient knowledge, but trial quality is often poor.
- Future research requires better-designed trials with consistent outcome measures, exploring internet-based information and adhering to best practices in information design and content.
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