https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2602-9701
Abstract
Purpose
Written medicine information informs patients about the benefits and risks of medicines and supports their safe and effective use. In Thailand, patient information leaflets (PILs) are not obligatory and therefore not routinely supplied. This study aimed to explore the experiences and information needs of patients, their views on PILs and the likely impact of PILs on their knowledge, perceptions and behaviors towards medicines. These factors are important to establish the value of PILs.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews with outpatients who received simvastatin or atorvastatin were conducted exploring their experiences of receiving medicine information, their views on the utility of and need for PILs, the impact of PILs on their behaviors, and recommendations for how PILs could be improved. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a framework approach.
Results
Thirty interviews were conducted from which four themes emerged: experience of receiving medicine information, views of package inserts and PILs, impact of PILs on knowledge, perceptions and behaviors, and patients’ need for medicine information. Most participants received verbal information from healthcare professionals, as well as written information. Verbal information was perceived as being particularly useful to inform about changes to medicine regimens or the long-term adverse effects of medicines. Patients perceived that the PILs had influenced their knowledge about medicines, and also their behaviors including safety awareness, adherence, and engagement with healthcare professionals. Participants suggested that the information in electronic format could provide an additional resource. Some changes to improve the content and general format of the PIL were identified.
Conclusion
PILs are perceived as useful by patients and met their information needs, although they were viewed as an adjunct to verbal advice provided by healthcare professionals. PILs influenced patients’ medicine taking behaviors and encouraged sharing of information with their physicians.
Acknowledgments
We thank the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Programme by Thailand Research Fund for supporting this research (Grant No. PHD/0117/2559). We also thank Ms. Supawinee Pongpunna, Queen Sirikit Heart Centre, Khon Kaen University, Thailand for validating the interview guide, outpatients from the Primary Care Unit, Srinagarind Hospital and Queen Sirikit Heart Centre who participated in the interview and to all staff who provided help in data collection.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.