[Quality improvement of health information included in drug information leaflets. Patient and health professional expectations]

Abstract

Objective: To report on patient and professional opinions and expectations concerning the information included in drug package leaflets and to determine their readability.

Design: Qualitative and quantitative study. PLACEMENT: Primary Care and Specialized Centres from Andalusia, Catalonia, Basque Country, Navarra, Aragon and Extremadura.

Participants: Patients from Primary Care Health Centers, physicians, pharmacists and citizen associations, using intentional sampling.

Method: Qualitative interviews. Flesch Readability Test is used to determine the leaflet readability.

Results: There are different degrees of satisfaction between professionals and patients, concerning both quality and quantity of information leaflets. The use of technical language and a small lettering size was observed. The leaflet is considered an important source of information among professionals, but not among patients who prefer information from their physicians. The greatest comprehension difficulties appear in paragraphs on posology, secondary and adverse effects.

Conclusions: Health information must centre on practical aspects of the health-illness-care process. Leaflets must be adapted to the needs of the patients and professionals. Physicians are commonly consulted by patients, so it is important to ensure they have high communication skills. Patients have the need for constant information; therefore new information channels must be created.