title: Effect of standardized, patient-centered label instructions to improve comprehension of prescription drug use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of standardized, patient-centered label (PCL) instructions to improve comprehension of prescription drug use compared with typical instructions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 500 adult patients recruited from 2 academic and 2 community primary care clinics in Chicago, IL and Shreveport, LA were assigned to receive as follows: (1) standard prescription instructions written as times per day (once, twice 3 times per day) (usual care), (2) PCL instructions that specify explicit timing with standard intervals (morning, noon, evening, bedtime) (PCL), or (3) PCL instructions with a graphic aid to visually depict dose and timing of the medication (PCL + Graphic). The outcome was correct interpretation of label instructions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Instructions with the PCL format were more likely to be correctly interpreted compared with standard instructions (adjusted relative risk [RR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-1.41). Inclusion of the graphic aid (PCL + Graphic) decreased rates of correct interpretation compared with PCL instructions alone (RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89-0.97). Patients with low literacy were better able to interpret PCL instructions (low literacy: RR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.14-1.68; P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PCL approach could improve patients' understanding and use of their medication regimen.
authors.affiliation: Health Literacy and Learning Program, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. mswolf@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Terry C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Stacy Cooper
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Shrank
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lindquist
authors.forename: Bernice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ruo
authors.forename: Mary V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Bocchini
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Alastair J J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004348:Drug Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs