[Usefulness of information leaflets about drugs for hospitalized patients with chronic diseases]

To know how patients perceive the information leaflets about medicines, it has been carried out a study in a sample of 65 patients admitted to a hospital for chronic respiratory or cardiac diseases. A 47.7% of patients expressed that the main information provided by the leaflet was such concerning to the purpose of the drug, whereas a 18.5% pointed out such concerning to side effects and management of unexpected circumstances. Sixty three percent of patients expressed that leaflets did not provide them new information. A relevant percentage of patients did not know the meaning of some terms frequently used in leaflets and package-inserts (80% of mistakes in the interpretation of "take the drug on an empty stomach"). It is concluded that the information leaflets can be useful in the framework of a good physician-patient relationship, as a reminder, and to reinforce the knowledge that the patient already has. It is considered that the most appropriate time for the education of chronic patients about drugs is when the treatment is prescribed for the first time.