The role of health literacy and written medicine information in nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug risk awareness.
BACKGROUND
Despite widespread use of prescription nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), patients are commonly unaware of their risks. Pharmacies regularly distribute written medicine information (WMI) describing the risks and benefits of NSAID therapy at the time of dispensing.


OBJECTIVE
To clarify the relationship among common sociodemographic factors, education, health literacy, reading of WMI routinely distributed at pharmacies, and NSAID risk awareness.


METHODS
Generalized linear latent and mixed models (GLLAMM) ordered logistic regression and confirmatory path analysis were used to evaluate multivariable relationships in a cross-sectional dataset of 382 patients in the second phase of the Alabama NSAID Patient Safety Study.


RESULTS
The majority of the analytical sample was female (72.0%) with 38.7% African American, 38.1% age 65 years or older, and 43.3% reporting at least some college education. Health literacy was positively associated with reading of WMI (p = 0.001) and NSAID risk awareness (p = 0.025), while age was negatively associated with reading WMI (p = 0.001) and NSAID risk awareness (p = 0.005). Medicaid/uninsured status was negatively associated with risk awareness (p = 0.013). Reading of WMI was not associated with NSAID risk awareness (p = 0.659). The final path model demonstrated excellent fit.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of relationship between reading of WMI and NSAID risk awareness questions the current strategy of distribution of patient-targeted print education materials at pharmacies. To maximize limited resources, future research should identify more effective strategies to deliver risk information to patients and ensure its retention, especially in high-risk groups such as the elderly, the indigent, and those with inadequate health literacy.
Miller
Michael J
MJ
Department of Pharmacy: Clinical and Administrative Sciences - Tulsa, College of Pharmacy, The University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK, USA. michael-miller@ouhsc.edu
Schmitt
Michael R
MR
Allison
Jeroan J
JJ
Cobaugh
Daniel J
DJ
Ray
Midge N
MN
Saag
Kenneth G
KG
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000407:Alabama; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004348:Drug Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal