Sudanese patients’ knowledge, attitude and perception regarding written medication information in package inserts

Abstract

Medication package inserts are the most available and accessible sources of written medication information to patients. To assess the Sudanese patients’ knowledge, attitude and perception towards written medication information in package inserts. One thousand (1000) patients were addressed with a questionnaire composed of nineteen (n=19) questions. The demographic characteristics of the respondents, showed dominance (89%) of young, males (64.4%), with high educational level. Respondents were keen to read package inserts (71.1%). Respondents' reading was significantly correlated to their age and educational levels (p 0.005, 0.000) respectively. Written medication information was difficult to understand for (35.3%) of respondents. Language (18.2%), technical terminology (20.4%), and font size (10.3%), were cited as the main barriers for understanding. Doctors and pharmacists provided verbal medication information to patients in (40.8%), and (57.8. %) of encounters, respectively. Respondents most needed medication information particulars were how to use it, side effects and contraindications. Respondents practiced medications cross - treatment, stopped and/or decreased medication dose after reading package inserts. Those practices were significantly correlated to respondents’ reading of package inserts (p 0.028 and 0.034) respectively. Package inserts texts' language, technical terminology, were main barriers for patients' understandability of written medication information.