Understanding Drug Labels of the Rational Drug Use Hospital Project among Outpatients: a Case study in Phetchaburi

Abstract

Objective: To study the understanding among outpatients on drug labels of the Rational Drug Use Hospital project and the association between drug labels’ format and their understanding. Method: Subjects were 400 patients or those filling prescriptions at outpatient pharmacy department of 8 hospitals in Phetchaburi. The study was collected the data using questionnaires with questions on the comprehension of labels of Ibuprofen tablet within each hospital. Results: The subjects in each hospital had different degree of understanding on drug labels. All subjects had a correct understanding on the number of tablets that should be taken each time. Over 70% of them had correct understanding on Thai generic name, strength, indication, and times for drug-taking. Only 23.5% of them understood warnings. The label with the word “generic name” following by Thai generic name and the label with Thai generic name displayed after instructions were associated with a better understanding on Thai generic name (P=0.001, 0.023). Specification of unit of drug strength in Thai was associated with a better understanding of drug strength (P=0.003). Larger font size on the instruction of drug use and Not using the term “use when needed” were associated with a better understanding on drug-taking time (P=0.028, 0.004). The display of warnings after indications or after Thai generic names was related to a better understanding of drug warning (P<0.001 and <0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Patients had the most accurate understanding of drug labels when showing the word “generic name” in front of the Thai generic name, specifying full names of unit of drug strength in Thai, clearly identifying symptom  when drug needs to be taken, using large font size for the instruction on drug use and displaying warnings or recommendations after indications or Thai generic names.