Special Populations and Product Labeling: The Consumer's Perspective

Abstract

The safe and effective use of medicines depends on clear instructions to the consumer, that is, the patient. Labels and leaflets play a crucial role in delivery of this information. As the elderly consume a disproportionate quantity of medicines, both prescribed and over-the-counter preparations, they merit special targeting as do other special populations, such as children, care givers, the blind and visually impaired, patients with low IQ, and those with reading and literacy problems. The authors have found that patients, particularly elderly patients, have difficulty in naming, describing, and knowing the indications for their drug therapy. In Ireland, up to 50% of tablets on the market are not readily identifiable. Furthermore, even medical and nursing staff have problems recognizing commonly prescribed drugs. It has been shown that many little white tablets are not readily distinguished by patients. In the face of these difficulties patients informed the authors that the prescriber was their main source of information. Thus, it has been shown that patient knowledge of their medicines is poor. The challenge is to impart useful, understandable information on labels and leaflets and thus facilitate patient and prescriber education toward safe, effective drug therapy.