If reading those confusing and wordy inserts that come with prescription medications has been a hard pill to swallow, there's good news. A recent Food and Drug Administration law is going to make this information easier for consumers to read and understand.
According to the Partnership for Clear Health Communication, this law is a big step toward improving information about medications. The Partnership for Clear Health Communication is a national, non-profit coalition working to build awareness and advance solutions to improve health literacy (the ability to read, understand and act on health information) and positively impact health outcomes.
The new labels include information on when and how to take the medicine; how it works in the body; and what you should do if you experience any side effects.
Patients who understand this information may be more likely to take their medications correctly, which may lead to better health outcomes. Even with the new prescription inserts, which will be phased in over the next seven years, many people will still have questions about why and how to take their medications. The Partnership says that the most important thing you can do for your health is to ask questions-to your doctor, nurse and pharmacist. Your health care providers want you to ask questions. Why? Because they know that if you really understand your medical condition, you will be more likely to follow their instructions and keep yourself healthy.
To learn more about improving your health communication, you can visit the Partnership's Web site at www.p4chc.org.
New changes in the way prescription drug package inserts are formatted will make it easier for patients to find important information. |
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