Patient Characteristics Influencing Evaluation of Written Medicine Information: Lessons for Patient Education
- 1 September 2005
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Annals of Pharmacotherapy
- Vol. 39 (9), 1434-1440
- https://doi.org/10.1345/aph.1g118
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Written medicine information (WMI) is considered an important component of patient education. Despite the wealth of information on many aspects of WMI, there is a paucity of studies examining how patient characteristics influence use and evaluation of WMI. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of patient characteristics on the evaluation and intended future use of consumer medicine information (CMI), a form of WMI. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to patients from 3 rheumatology/pain clinics in teaching hospitals and 40 community pharmacies. The questionnaire examined patients' perceptions of CMI (comprehension, perceived usefulness, design rating) and likelihood of using CMI in the future. Information on patient characteristics (demographic data, health literacy level) was also collected. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine associations between patient characteristics and their evaluation and intended future use of CMI. RESULTS: A total of 479 patients participated. Comprehension of CMI was associated with speaking primarily English at home, having attained secondary education or higher, and having adequate health literacy levels. Perceived usefulness of CMI was influenced by age and number of medications. Design rating was influenced by type of CMI, patient age, gender, and highest level of education. Intended future use was affected by health literacy level. In addition to individual patient characteristics, overall comprehension and perceived usefulness of CMI also influenced its intended future use. CONCLUSIONS: Patient characteristics were found to influence evaluation and intended future use of CMI. These findings should be taken into consideration in future research, development of WMI, and education of patients in everyday practice.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- Factors Influencing Consumer Use of Written Drug InformationAnnals of Pharmacotherapy, 2003
- Comprehension of Written Health Care Information in an Affluent Geriatric Retirement Community: Use of the Test of Functional Health LiteracyGerontology, 2002
- Shame and health literacy: the unspoken connectionPatient Education and Counseling, 1996
- Attitude of the Public toward Technical Package Inserts for Medication Information in BelgiumDICP, 1991
- Comparative Attitudes to Verbal and Written Medication Information among Hospital OutpatientsDICP, 1991
- Impact of patient package inserts on patients' satisfaction, adverse drug reactions and risk perception: The case of nsaids for posttraumatic pain reliefPatient Education and Counseling, 1991
- An abbreviated version of the Miller Behavioral Style ScaleBritish Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1989
- Monitoring and blunting: Validation of a questionnaire to assess styles of information seeking under threat.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1987
- Introduction to Survey SamplingPublished by SAGE Publications ,1983
- Development of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) ScalesHealth Education Monographs, 1978