Consumers Better Understand and Prefer Simplified Written Drug Information

Patients in the United States receive multiple forms of written drug information with their prescription medicines. This study solicited consumers’ preferences about formatting of information, their motivation to read drug information, and their ability to navigate and understand the information. A 3 × 3 study design was used in which 3 prototypes for 3 prescription drugs, ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^TM (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol), COUMADIN^TM (warfarin sodium), and PARNATE^TM (tranylcypromine sulfate), were evaluated. The prototypes included 2 novel formats (“new” and “bubble”) and the “current” format that patients now commonly receive with their prescriptions. A total of 105 consumers participated in the study. Consumers correctly answered more questions about the medicine when presented with a new (70%-95%) or a bubble prototype (83%-92%) than with the current format (53%-74%). All attributes scored higher with both prototypes compared with the current format. However, in terms of overall preference, consumers favored the new prototype and indicated that they would be more motivated to read it. Consumers also reported that simple icons assisted them in finding important information. The new and bubble prototypes were favored by participants more than the current format. Key attributes preferred by consumers must be considered as new formats for patient medication information are developed.