A prescribing information document and patients instructions contain several aspects such as subscription, inscription, patient information, signature, date prescribed, prescriber information, and the doctor’s instructions to the pharmacist. All the elements play an essential role in enhancing the application of drugs effectively by patients ( Shiyanbola et al., 2014). However, I will choose three items to change to make a prescribing information document and patient instructions to facilitate the understanding of the material by a patient with a low level of literacy. The items include date prescribed, inscription, and signature.
Signatura mostly reflects on the doctor’s details, informing the pharmacist of the mechanism on how the patient should apply the medication. The instruction outlined in Latin or English abbreviations that can be mainly understood by the pharmacist. For instance, 2gtt q2h OD for three days. The acronym means two drops every 2 hours for instilled in the right eye for three days. I will initiate changes in the Signatura by removing abbreviations and use a direct, simple, and clear Latin or English language to make it easy for the patients to understand and use the drug even in the absence of a pharmacist ( Hutchins et al., 2015). For example, the application of phrases such as “for eye pain” apply only two drops in every hour for three days.
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Generally, the inscription of the medicine focuses on drug identity, concentration, and mechanisms of preparation. Therefore, modification on the aspect would base on the effective use of language in which the patient with a low level of health literacy can understand. The name of the drug should not have abbreviation but described in both stock and scientific names to facilitate the patient with a low level of health literacy to understand (Shiyanbola et al., 2014). The concentration and preparation be specific, precise, and indicated to the right of the name using a metric system of measures and weights. I will focus on changing the values for concentration and preparation be in percentage that does not exceed two decimal places. The practices would enhance the ability of a patient with low health literacy to prepare raw medicines adequately.
Patient information is another essential aspect of the medicines given to patients. The factor focusses on the need to enhance the utilization of the drug by a specific patient with certain conditions. However, some drug instructions on the section prescription have a single name. The issue sometimes causes confliction since the patient with a low level of health literacy may not understand if the provided drug is effective ( Alvarez-Madrazo et al., 2016). I will modify the patient information by making it have at least two names of the patient; the first and last name of the client with the age, address, and specific condition. The practice will limit the chances that patients forget their drugs when mixed with those of other family members.
According to the description, a prescribing information document and patient instructions play a vital role in ensuring there correct and valid use of drugs. However, writing the information in simple and clear language with minimal abbreviation will limit the chances of medical errors caused by patients with a low level of health literacy. A Prescribing Information Document and Patient Instructions for the education material should be observed by all medical facilities as an essential aspect to enlighten patients with a low level of health literacy.
References
Alvarez-Madrazo, S., McTaggart, S., Nangle, C., Nicholson, E., & Bennie, M. (2016). Data resource profile: the Scottish national prescribing information system (PIS). International journal of epidemiology, 45(3), 714.
Hutchins, D. S., Zeber, J. E., Roberts, C. S., Williams, A. F., Manias, E., & Peterson, A. M. (2015). Initial medication adherence—review and recommendations for good practices in outcomes research: an ISPOR Medication Adherence and Persistence Special Interest Group report. Value in Health, 18(5), 690-699.
Shiyanbola, O. O., Meyer, B. A., Locke, M. R., & Wettergreen, S. (2014). Perceptions of prescription warning labels within an underserved population. Pharmacy practice, 12(1).
