Leaflets about drugs not valued by patients
Written information supplied with drugs is not valued by patients, according to a recent Health Technology Assessment report (2007;11:5) led by pharmacists
from the University of Leeds and Keele University. In particular, the
public consider patient information leaflets (PILs) to be poorly laid
out, to use complex language and to be ineffective at encouraging them
to take their medicines.
The HTA report also found that patients want to receive written information
about a range of treatments before a particular medicine is prescribed,
so that they can make informed decisions. However, patients do not want
written information to be viewed as a substitute for spoken information,
which can be tailored to them and their illness.
The researchers found that patients particularly value information about
side effects, but want risks to be expressed numerically, so that they
can evaluate the likelihood of experiencing adverse effects.
The researchers suggest that patients should be involved in all stages
of preparing PILs, so that their needs can be better reflected. More
research to establish the best way of providing risk and benefit information
to patients should be encouraged, they say. In addition, the role and
value of internet-based medicines information should be investigated.
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Hospital
Pharmacist