To Err is Human: Patient Misinterpretations of Prescription Drug Label Instructions

Patient Education and Counseling, Vol. 67, pp. 293-300, 2007

8 Pages Posted: 13 Jun 2011

See all articles by Ulla Connor

Ulla Connor

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

Michael S. Wolf

Northwestern University - Feinberg School of Medicine

Terry C. Davis

Louisiana State University, Shreveport

William Shrank

affiliation not provided to SSRN

David N. Rapp

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Pat F. Bass

Louisiana State University, Shreveport

Marla Clayman

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Ruth M. Parker

Emory University - School of Medicine

Date Written: March 28, 2007

Abstract

Objective: To examine the nature and cause of patients’ misunderstanding common dosage instructions on prescription drug container labels.

Methods: In-person cognitive interviews including a literacy assessment were conducted among 395 patients at one of three primary care clinics in Shreveport, Louisiana, Jackson, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. Patients were asked to read and demonstrate understanding of dosage instructions for five common prescription medications. Correct understanding was determined by a panel of blinded physician raters reviewing patient verbatim responses. Qualitative methods were employed to code incorrect responses and generate themes regarding causes for misunderstanding.

Results: Rates of misunderstanding for the five dosage instructions ranged from 8 to 33%. Patients with low literacy had higher rates of misunderstanding compared to those with marginal or adequate literacy (63% versus 51% versus 38%, p < 0.001). The 374 (19%) incorrect responses were qualitatively reviewed. Six themes were derived to describe the common causes for misunderstanding: label language, complexity of instructions, implicit versus explicit dosage intervals, presence of distractors, label familiarity, and attentiveness to label instructions.

Conclusion: Misunderstanding dosage instructions on prescription drug labels is common. While limited literacy is associated with misunderstanding, the instructions themselves are awkwardly phrased, vague, and unnecessarily difficult.

Practice implications: Prescription drug labels should use explicit dosing intervals, clear and simple language, within a patient-friendly label format. Health literacy and cognitive factors research should be consulted.

Keywords: health literacy, communication, medicine, health science

Suggested Citation

Connor, Ulla and Wolf, Michael S. and Davis, Terry C. and Shrank, William and Rapp, David N. and Bass, Pat F. and Clayman, Marla and Parker, Ruth M., To Err is Human: Patient Misinterpretations of Prescription Drug Label Instructions (March 28, 2007). Patient Education and Counseling, Vol. 67, pp. 293-300, 2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1863986

Ulla Connor (Contact Author)

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ( email )

334 N. Senate Avenue
Suite GL-A
Indianapolis, IN 46204
United States

Michael S. Wolf

Northwestern University - Feinberg School of Medicine ( email )

Chicago, IL 60611
United States

Terry C. Davis

Louisiana State University, Shreveport ( email )

Shreveport, LA
United States

William Shrank

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

David N. Rapp

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Pat F. Bass

Louisiana State University, Shreveport ( email )

Shreveport, LA
United States

Marla Clayman

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Ruth M. Parker

Emory University - School of Medicine ( email )

201 Dowman Drive
Atlanta, GA 30322
United States

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