Patient information: community pharmacy needs and perspectives.
Providing complete and understandable information to patients about medicines is considered an integral component of high-quality medical and pharmaceutical care. With such information, not only can the level of general health increase, but costs associated with noncompliance, including polypharmacy and hospitalization, can decrease. Although patient information leaflets (PILs) have been available since the 1970s, their use is more relevant today because of the counseling requirements of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. A national survey of community pharmacists was conducted to determine their attitudes toward this patient education strategy. Results demonstrate that pharmacists believe PILs benefit patients, but that PILs need revision in terms of readability, understandability, and standardization.
Juergens
J P
JP
School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi.
Basara
L R
LR
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003376:Counseling / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004345:Drug Industry; D004348:Drug Labeling / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States