Evaluation of facsimile cards for pharmacy-access products containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate label characteristics (type size) of facsimile cards, which are placed in nonprescription-product areas of pharmacies to provide drug-related information and guide consumers to the pharmacist for pharmacy-access medications containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Six of eight major community chain pharmacies and grocery stores in Houston during the month of February 2006 that carried facsimile cards.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
187 facsimile cards for brand-name and generic pharmacy-access medications containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine were evaluated for readability of information provided. Type size of printed drug-related information was measured with a compugraphic point system scale (1 inch = 72 points).


METHODS
Readability of label characteristics, particularly type size, of printed information for brand-name and generic pharmacy-access medications containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine.


RESULTS
Median type size of drug-related printed information on facsimile cards was 4.00 points. For 172 cards (91.98%), the type size of printed information was below the Food and Drug Administration requirement of 6 points for nonprescription medication labeling.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of small type size, consumers may have difficulty reading information on facsimile cards for pharmacy-access products. Federal regulations or voluntary efforts are needed to improve and standardize information on facsimile cards for pharmacy-access medications.
Chanda
Surupa
S
College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Sansgiry
Sujit S
SS
D003132:Commerce; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D032882:Comprehension; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004348:Drug Labeling / Q000592:standards*; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010595:Pharmacists; D054199:Pseudoephedrine / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D054199:Pseudoephedrine; D004809:Ephedrine