Northwestern University Newsfeed

December 6, 2006

WOLF: Most patients were able to read their label, but when we asked them to demonstrate how they would take the medicine, that was where they got into trouble. For instance, we asked patients to interpret, “take two tablets by mouth twice daily.” When we asked, “How many pills would you take in a given day of this medicine?” only 33 percent of those patients with limited literacy were able to correctly give back to us the amount of four pills.

Wolf says people tended to do better when instructions were more explicit…

WOLF: For instance, “take at 8 a.m. and at 5 p.m.”…that seems to do better than “take two tablets twice daily” or “take every twelve hours.”

Wolf says different forms of prescription writing and pharmacy labeling are problematic…

WOLF: What we need to consider is how we can standardize this process so no matter what physician you see or what pharmacy you attend, you'll have the same dosage instruction at all places.

Wolf says labeling has already been standardized for over-the-counter medications…

WOLF: The FDA has oversight of over-the-counter meds and has created a very recognizable template that you'll see on every over-the-counter medication called, “Drug Facts.” And, what that provides you is a nice little grid that organizations the information that needs to be told to the patient about taking that medicine.