Lorraine S Wallace1, Amy J Keenum, Jennifer E DeVoe. 1. Department of Family Medicine, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, 1924 Alcoa Highway, U-67, Knoxville, Tennessee 37920, USA. lwallace@mc.utmck.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess supplementary materials accompanying 2 commonly prescribed pediatric medications, including the following: 1) readability and layout characteristics of pharmacy-generated consumer medical information(CMI); and 2) types and features of oral liquid measuring devices(OLMDs) provided. METHODS: We filled the same two prescriptions (prednisolone and amoxicillin) at 20 pharmacies (national grocery store chain [n = 1], regional grocery store chains [n = 4], national pharmacy chains [n = 3], national superstore chains [n = 3], and independently owned [n = 9]) across three states (Colorado,Georgia, and Tennessee). We evaluated readability, using both the Flesch-Kincaid (FK) formula and McLaughlin's Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and text point size of pharmacy-generated CMI. We also assessed whether an OLMD(oral syringe, dropper, or cylindrical spoon) was included with each prescription and recorded the largest marked dose (in mL). RESULTS: Three pharmacies did not provide any type of CMI for either medication. Therefore, CMI was reviewed for 34 prescriptions. Reading grade levels of CMI averaged 9.6 1.9 (range, 5.3-11.7) using the FK and 11.2 2.6 (range, 6-14) based on the SMOG. Average text font size of CMI was 9.8 1.9 (range, 6-12). Although 32 (80%) prescriptions included an OLMD (oral syringe [n = 20], cylindrical spoon [n = 7], and dropper [n = 5]), close to one third (31.3%) would require multiple measurements to attain prescribed dosages. CONCLUSIONS: Many of the supplemental materials accompanying the prescriptions filled in this study were suboptimal;CMI was written at reading levels exceeding that of many parents,and the largest marked dose on each OLMD varied substantially. Physicians should be cognizant of the shortcomings of supplemental materials included with many medications, whereas pharmacies should strive to provide understandable CMI (ie, written at or below sixth-grade reading level) and suitable OLMDs (ie,requiring only one measurement of medication) to promote proper medication use.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess supplementary materials accompanying 2 commonly prescribed pediatric medications, including the following: 1) readability and layout characteristics of pharmacy-generated consumer medical information(CMI); and 2) types and features of oral liquid measuring devices(OLMDs) provided. METHODS: We filled the same two prescriptions (prednisolone and amoxicillin) at 20 pharmacies (national grocery store chain [n = 1], regional grocery store chains [n = 4], national pharmacy chains [n = 3], national superstore chains [n = 3], and independently owned [n = 9]) across three states (Colorado,Georgia, and Tennessee). We evaluated readability, using both the Flesch-Kincaid (FK) formula and McLaughlin's Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and text point size of pharmacy-generated CMI. We also assessed whether an OLMD(oral syringe, dropper, or cylindrical spoon) was included with each prescription and recorded the largest marked dose (in mL). RESULTS: Three pharmacies did not provide any type of CMI for either medication. Therefore, CMI was reviewed for 34 prescriptions. Reading grade levels of CMI averaged 9.6 1.9 (range, 5.3-11.7) using the FK and 11.2 2.6 (range, 6-14) based on the SMOG. Average text font size of CMI was 9.8 1.9 (range, 6-12). Although 32 (80%) prescriptions included an OLMD (oral syringe [n = 20], cylindrical spoon [n = 7], and dropper [n = 5]), close to one third (31.3%) would require multiple measurements to attain prescribed dosages. CONCLUSIONS: Many of the supplemental materials accompanying the prescriptions filled in this study were suboptimal;CMI was written at reading levels exceeding that of many parents,and the largest marked dose on each OLMD varied substantially. Physicians should be cognizant of the shortcomings of supplemental materials included with many medications, whereas pharmacies should strive to provide understandable CMI (ie, written at or below sixth-grade reading level) and suitable OLMDs (ie,requiring only one measurement of medication) to promote proper medication use.
Authors: Tiene Bauters; Barbara Claus; Elsie Willems; Johan De Porre; Joris Verlooy; Yves Benoit; Hugo Robays Journal: Int J Clin Pharm Date: 2012-07-10
Authors: H Shonna Yin; Benard P Dreyer; Hannah A Moreira; Linda van Schaick; Luis Rodriguez; Susanne Boettger; Alan L Mendelsohn Journal: Acad Pediatr Date: 2014 May-Jun Impact factor: 3.107
Authors: H Shonna Yin; Ruth M Parker; Lee M Sanders; Alan Mendelsohn; Benard P Dreyer; Stacy Cooper Bailey; Deesha A Patel; Jessica J Jimenez; Kwang-Youn A Kim; Kara Jacobson; Michelle C J Smith; Laurie Hedlund; Nicole Meyers; Terri McFadden; Michael S Wolf Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2017-07 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Tiffany A Williams; Michael S Wolf; Ruth M Parker; Lee M Sanders; Stacy Bailey; Alan L Mendelsohn; Benard P Dreyer; Jessica J Velazquez; H Shonna Yin Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2019-10-08 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Saangyoung E Lee; William C Brown; Mark W Gelpi; Adam J Kimple; Brent A Senior; Adam M Zanation; Brian D Thorp; Charles S Ebert Journal: Int Forum Allergy Rhinol Date: 2020-04-13 Impact factor: 3.858
Authors: Laura M Curtis; Rebecca J Mullen; Allison Russell; Aimee Fata; Stacy C Bailey; Gregory Makoul; Michael S Wolf Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2016-07-02
Authors: Lorraine S Wallace; Randell K Wexler; W Frederick Miser; Leon McDougle; J David Haddox Journal: J Pain Res Date: 2013-09-05 Impact factor: 3.133