Educating patients about their medications: the potential and limitations of written drug information.
Drug information on labels and inserts is a major source of knowledge for patients as they attempt to balance the risks and benefits of drugs and administer them safely. Yet this information is often inconsistent, incomplete, and difficult for patients to read and understand. We reviewed the numerous sources of written prescription drug information, the regulations that govern their content and format and the lack of oversight in the process, and the history that led to this system. We suggest that oversight and standards are needed so that written drug information can serve as a coherent and organized system to educate patients.
Shrank
William H
WH
Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. wshrank@partners.org
Avorn
Jerry
J
D004348:Drug Labeling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004522:Educational Status; D033161:Government Regulation; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration