Terry C. Davis|Michael S. Wolf|Pat F. Bass|Mark Middlebrooks|Estela M. Kennen|David W. Baker|Charles L. Bennett|Ramón Durazo-Arvizú|Anna Bocchini|Stephanie Savory|Ruth M. Parker
Low literacy impairs comprehension of prescription drug warning labels
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport|Northwestern University|Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport|Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport|Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport|Northwestern University|Northwestern University|Northwestern University|Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport|Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport|Emory University
background adverse events resulting medication error serious concern patients literacy ability understand medication information increasingly seen safety issue objective examine whether adult patients receiving primary care services public hospital clinic able correctly interpret commonly used prescription medication warning labels design inperson structured interviews literacy assessment setting public hospital primary care clinic participants total 251 adult patients waiting appointment louisiana state university health sciences center shreveport lsuhscs primary care clinic measurements correct interpretation determined expert panel review patients verbatim responses 8 commonly used prescription medication warning labels results approximately onethird patients n74 reading 6thgrade level low literacy patient comprehension warning labels associated ones literacy level multistep instructions proved difficult patients across literacy levels controlling relevant potential confounding variables patients low literacy 34 times less likely interpret prescription medication warning labels correctly 95 confidence interval 23 49 conclusions patients low literacy difficulty understanding prescription medication warning labels patients literacy levels better understanding warning labels contained singlestep versus multiplestep instructions warning labels developed consumer participation especially lower literate populations ensure comprehension short concise messages created familiar words recognizable icons