The Design and Experimental Testing of a Hospital Drug Labelling System

Abstract

The standard of hospital pharmaceutical labelling in the United Kingdom is generally low in terms of design, materials and printing. These defects, coupled with an absence of standardisation, particularly of terminology, typography and label formats, make for inefficiency in label production and in the storage and selection of drugs. In areas where rapid and accurate drug administration is essential, any inefficiency is potentially dangerous. After examination of drug labels collected throughout the United Kingdom, a set of sample labels was designed and tested using search test techniques, with nurses as subjects. Statistical analysis of the results suggested that the design hypothesis was valid and worthy of extension through the full range of hospital pharmaceutical preparations. A report and guidelines for labelling were then prepared and presented to the hospital.