Users’ preferences and perceptions of the comprehensibility and readability of medication labels
Open Access
- 22 February 2019
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLOS ONE
- Vol. 14 (2), e0212173
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212173
Abstract
To evaluate the labeling preferences of medication users and characterize their perceptions of the comprehensibility and readability of medication labels. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of medication users aged 18 years or older in 10 Brazilian capital cities. Perceptions of the comprehensibility and readability of medication labels in relation to sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated by Poisson regression models with robust variance. Labeling preferences were assessed through questions addressing possible improvements and through the use of digitally simulated packages. Of 6,255 medication users interviewed, more than half found it difficult or very difficult to read (50.8%) and/or understand (52.0%) medication labels. Difficulties were more pronounced for participants aged 40 years or older, with lower levels of education, and non-whites. Increasing the font size (93.7%), describing the indications for use (95.9%) and contraindications (95.6%) on the label, and highlighting the expiration date (96.3%) were the most widely accepted improvements. In the evaluation of simulated packages, users preferred factors that improved readability, such as increased font size, use of graphic elements and color to highlight the concentration of the active ingredient, and contrast between the font color and background. The new simulated package design, with increased font size, color to highlight the concentration and contrast between the font color and background, was preferred over the standard design by 77.0% of participants. Based on users’ perceptions, increased font size and use of graphic elements and color to emphasize critical information, such as expiration date and concentration, are factors that contribute to making medication labels clearer to users. Pharmaceutical industries and policy makers should consider these items when developing labels and defining policies on this issue.Keywords
Funding Information
- Program of Support for the Institutional Development of the Unified Health System
- Hospital Moinhos de Vento
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- A New, Evidence-based Estimate of Patient Harms Associated with Hospital CareJournal of Patient Safety, 2013
- Improving the usability of intravenous medication labels to support safe medication deliveryInternational Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 2011
- Rationale and design of a randomized trial to evaluate an evidence-based prescription drug label on actual medication useContemporary Clinical Trials, 2010
- The Variability and Quality of Medication Container LabelsArchives of Internal Medicine, 2007
- To err is human: Patient misinterpretations of prescription drug label instructionsPatient Education and Counseling, 2007
- The role and value of written information for patients about individual medicines: a systematic reviewHealth Expectations, 2007
- Considering the impact of medicine label design characteristics on patient safetyErgonomics, 2006
- An investigational study on the legibility of eye drops′ labelsIndian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2006
- Effects of label format on knowledge acquisition and perceived readability by younger and older adultsErgonomics, 2003
- Readability of prescription drug labels by older and younger adultsJournal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 1994