A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Knowledge of Medicine Safety and Frequency of Reading Medication Leaflets and Its Predictors – Insights from Saudi Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

Background and Aim

On the other hand, patient safety, is of the utmost importance, in addition to health care providers’ counseling and advice, patient information leaflets (PILs) also have a significant impact on health outcomes. This study aimed to assess the Knowledge of medicine safety and Frequency of reading medication Leaflets and their predictors among the Saudi population in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.

Methods and Materials

This cross-sectional study was conducted over three months in 2023 using online structured self-administered questionnaires, on the adults of Saudi Arabia, admitted to provide informed consent, aged ≥18 years, able to complete the questionnaires, being Saudi nationals, and currently living in the country. The data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 27.

Results

In this study, 23.6% (n=123) of respondents always read the PILs, while 14.6% (n=76) of them never read the PILs. In addition, 22.6% (n=118) of them find it difficult to understand the PILs. In this study, 53.9% of them revealed that ADRs are unexpected reactions after taking the normal dose and 15.4% of them do not know what ADRs are. The respondents gender ( B= 0.164; SE=0.075; 95 CI = 0.017–0.310; p = 0.029), Social status ( B = 0.251; SE = 0.079; 95 CI = 0.096–0.406; p = 0.002) and monthly income ( B= 0.136; SE = 0.021; 95 CI = 0.095–0.178; p < 0.001) was the predictor of reading PILs.

Conclusion

In this study, two-thirds of participants took medication and knew why they were taking it. However, only a few of them took the medicine after seeing a doctor, suggesting self-medication practice. In addition, 22.1% of them find it difficult to understand the PILS, and a small number of them would rather read it. Highlighting the significance of seeking medical advice from healthcare professionals before using a medication.

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Most cited references 26

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Patient information leaflets: informing or frightening? A focus group study exploring patients’ emotional reactions and subsequent behavior towards package leaflets of commonly prescribed medications in family practices

Oliver Herber, Verena Gies, David Schwappach … (2014)

Background The purpose of patient information leaflets (PILs) is to inform patients about the administration, precautions and potential side effects of their prescribed medication. Despite European Commission guidelines aiming at increasing readability and comprehension of PILs little is known about the potential risk information has on patients. This article explores patients’ reactions and subsequent behavior towards risk information conveyed in PILs of commonly prescribed drugs by general practitioners (GPs) for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension or hypercholesterolemia; the most frequent cause for consultations in family practices in Germany. Methods We conducted six focus groups comprising 35 patients which were recruited in GP practices. Transcripts were read and coded for themes; categories were created by abstracting data and further refined into a coding framework. Results Three interrelated categories are presented: (i) The vast amount of side effects and drug interactions commonly described in PILs provoke various emotional reactions in patients which (ii) lead to specific patient behavior of which (iii) consulting the GP for assistance is among the most common. Findings show that current description of potential risk information caused feelings of fear and anxiety in the reader resulting in undesirable behavioral reactions. Conclusions Future PILs need to convey potential risk information in a language that is less frightening while retaining the information content required to make informed decisions about the prescribed medication. Thus, during the production process greater emphasis needs to be placed on testing the degree of emotional arousal provoked in patients when reading risk information to allow them to undertake a benefit-risk-assessment of their medication that is based on rational rather than emotional (fearful) reactions.

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Evaluation of medication package inserts in Saudi Arabia

Sinaa A Al-aqeel (2012)

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine if package inserts (PIs) supplied with prescribed and over-the-counter medications in Saudi Arabia contain information relevant for the safe and appropriate use of these medications. Methods Sixty PIs for prescription-only medications (n = 37) and over-the-counter medications (n = 23) were evaluated against a set of safety criteria compiled from the literature. Results Analyzed PIs were defective in many aspects. Particularly of concern were unclear dosage instructions, lack of measures to be taken when an administrative error was made, inappropriate presentation of side effects, and lack of measures to be taken if serious side effects occurred. Conclusion This study indicated that information relevant to the safe and appropriate use of medications was not uniformly mentioned in the PIs analyzed. To avoid medication errors due to deficits in the current PIs, we recommend improvement in the existing PIs based on best practice for information content and design.

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Consumption of over-the-Counter Drugs: Prevalence and Type of Drugs

Eduardo Sanchez-Sanchez, Fátima Fernández-Cerezo, Jara Díaz-Jimenez … (2021)

Recently, there has been an increase in the use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The consumption of these medicines can be unsafe, as incorrect self-diagnosis or the ingestion of inappropriate doses can lead to side effects and the occurrence of adverse reactions and drug–drug interactions. A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was carried out, targeting the entire Spanish population by using an online questionnaire. The results showed that 78.9% of the subjects had previously taken or were currently taking OTC drugs. This consumption decreased as the age of the subjects increased, with a prevalence of 36.4% of subjects aged ≥ 71 taking OTC drugs. Analgesics were the most consumed OTC drugs (49.1%) especially in women, youngsters with non-formal educational qualifications, and individuals of a low–medium socioeconomic level residing in urban areas. Measures should be implemented to optimize the safe use of OTC drugs in order to avoid the occurrence of secondary events associated with the lack of knowledge related to their the usage.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int J Gen Med

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Int J Gen Med

Journal ID (publisher-id): ijgm

Title: International Journal of General Medicine

Publisher: Dove

ISSN (Electronic): 1178-7074

Publication date (Electronic): 19 January 2024

Publication date Collection: 2024

Volume: 17

Pages: 175-186

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Community and Mental Health, College of Nursing , Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

[2 ]Department of Medical-Surgical College of Nursing, King Saud University , Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

[3 ]Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University , Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

[4 ]Department of Basic Sciences, Prince Sultan College for Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University , Riyadh, 11466, Saudi Arabia

[5 ]Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Author notes

Correspondence: Wajid Syed, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University , Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia, Email wali@ksu.edu.sa

Article

Publisher ID: 446041

DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S446041

PMC ID: 10804869

PubMed ID: 38264275

SO-VID: 830d9328-d766-40d5-84c3-9edffc66aa74

License:

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms ( https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php).

History

Date received : 06 November 2023

Date accepted : 10 January 2024

Page count

Figures: 7, Tables: 5, References: 26, Pages: 12

Funding

Funded by: the Research Supporting Project, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;

This study was supported by the Research Supporting Project, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, (RSP2024R378) which provided funding for this work.

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A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Knowledge of Medicine Safety and Frequency of Reading Medication Leaflets and Its Predictors-Insights from Saudi Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [Letter]
Authors: Griennasty Clawdya Siahaya, Joan Herly Herwawan, Fandro Armando Tasijawa

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A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Knowledge of Medicine Safety and Frequency of Reading Medication Leaflets and Its Predictors – Insights from Saudi Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

Background and Aim

Methods and Materials

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Conclusion

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Arab Journal of Forensic Sciences & Forensic Medicine (AJFSFM)

Most cited references 26

Patient information leaflets: informing or frightening? A focus group study exploring patients’ emotional reactions and subsequent behavior towards package leaflets of commonly prescribed medications in family practices

Evaluation of medication package inserts in Saudi Arabia

Consumption of over-the-Counter Drugs: Prevalence and Type of Drugs

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