Providing patients with written medication information

Area of Science:

• Health Communication
• Patient Education
• Medical Information Dissemination

Background:

• Written medication information is increasingly available for patients and healthcare providers.
• The Food and Drug Administration's goal of 75% patient receipt by 2000 is likely achievable.
• Existing materials face challenges with standardization and readability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review literature on written medication information development and dissemination.
• To provide recommendations for improving patient medication information resources.
• To assess current availability and identify areas for enhancement.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a MEDLINE search (1966-1997) and internet search for relevant articles.
• Reviewed reports on medication information systems, readability, and reading skills.
• Examined available medication information materials for laypeople and providers.

Main Results:

• Widespread availability of written medication information is confirmed.
• Concerns exist regarding non-standardized content and high reading levels.
• Need for resources with minimal reading skills and in Spanish is identified.

Conclusions:

• Written medication information complements professional counseling effectively.
• Diverse resources exist for developing tailored patient education tools.
• Healthcare professionals must consider content appropriateness and readability for optimal patient education outcomes.