Automatic Quantification of Abbreviations in Medicine Package Leaflets and Their Comprehension Assessment

Carla Pires, Fernando Martins, Afonso Cavaco and Marina Vigário
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Carla Pires: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Fernando Martins: School of Arts and Humanities, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Afonso Cavaco: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Marina Vigário: School of Arts and Humanities, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

International Journal of E-Health and Medical Communications (IJEHMC), 2017, vol. 8, issue 2, 47-64

Abstract: Medication errors occur as a consequence of misunderstandings with abbreviations and symbols (A&S). According to pharmaceutical regulations, A&S should be avoided in medicine package leaflets (PLs). Using a sample of 531 Portuguese PLs, this study aims at: quantifying A&S in PLs, comparing how A&S were distributed, identifying non-recommended units of measure, checking whether the full meaning of abbreviations was presented, and determining educated peoples' interpretation of A&S. A computational tool was used to identify A&S. Participants' comprehension was evaluated with a questionnaire. Overall, 828 different A&S were identified. PLs of prescribing medicines contained a significantly higher proportion of A&S than PLs of over-the-counter medicines (chi-square = 13.4; p = 0.004). A&S with their meaning not fully described and units of measure with a non-recommended format were identified. Only 9.9% of the questionnaire answers were correct. Portuguese PLs may need to be revised. The software used is appropriate to checking A&S in PLs.

Date: 2017
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:igg:jehmc0:v:8:y:2017:i:2:p:47-64

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