1
|
Bahri P, Bowring G, Edwards BD, Anton C, Aronson JK, Caro-Rojas A, Hugman BPJ, Mol PG, Trifirò G, Ilic K, Daghfous R, Fermont I, Furlan G, Gaissmaier W, Geer MI, Hartigan-Go KY, Houÿez F, Neth H, Norgela G, Oppamayun Y, Raynor DKT, Bouhlel M, Santoro F, Sultana J. Communicating for the Safe Use of Medicines: Progress and Directions for the 2020s Promoted by the Special Interest Group of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance. Drug Saf 2023; 46:517-532. [PMID: 37219785 DOI: 10.1007/s40264-023-01285-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Priya Bahri
- Special Interest Group on Medicinal Product Risk Communication of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP CommSIG), Geneva, Switzerland.
- European Medicines Agency (EMA) (Coordinator of the ISoP CommSIG in Her Personal Capacity), Domenico Scarlattilaan 6, 1083 HS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Geoffrey Bowring
- Special Interest Group on Medicinal Product Risk Communication of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP CommSIG), Geneva, Switzerland
- Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Brian D Edwards
- Special Interest Group on Medicinal Product Risk Communication of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP CommSIG), Geneva, Switzerland
- Husoteria Ltd, Ashtead, UK
| | - Christopher Anton
- Special Interest Group on Medicinal Product Risk Communication of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP CommSIG), Geneva, Switzerland
- West Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jeffrey K Aronson
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Oxford, UK
| | - Angela Caro-Rojas
- Special Interest Group on Medicinal Product Risk Communication of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP CommSIG), Geneva, Switzerland
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Peter G Mol
- Special Interest Group on Medicinal Product Risk Communication of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP CommSIG), Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gianluca Trifirò
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Katarina Ilic
- Special Interest Group on Medicinal Product Risk Communication of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP CommSIG), Geneva, Switzerland
- Takeda, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Riadh Daghfous
- Tunisian National Centre of Pharmacovigilance, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Irene Fermont
- Israel Society for Medication and Vaccine Safety (ERANIM), Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Giovanni Furlan
- Special Interest Group on Medicinal Product Risk Communication of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP CommSIG), Geneva, Switzerland
- Pfizer s.r.l., Safety Surveillance and Risk Management, Milan, Italy
| | - Wolfgang Gaissmaier
- Department of Psychology, Social Psychology and Decision Sciences, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Mohammad Ishaq Geer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Kenneth Y Hartigan-Go
- Special Interest Group on Medicinal Product Risk Communication of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP CommSIG), Geneva, Switzerland
- School of Government, Ateneo De Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - François Houÿez
- European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS), Paris, France
| | - Hansjörg Neth
- Department of Psychology, Social Psychology and Decision Sciences, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Yaowares Oppamayun
- Thai Food and Drug Administration, Health Product Vigilance Center, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Mehdi Bouhlel
- Tunisian National Centre of Pharmacovigilance, Tunis, Tunisia
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | | | - Janet Sultana
- Pharmacy Department, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bearth A, Kwon S, Siegrist M. Chemophobia and knowledge of toxicological principles in South-Korea: perceptions of trace chemicals in consumer products. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2021; 84:183-195. [PMID: 33289440 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2020.1851834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Many consumer products are manufactured or synthesized from chemicals. However, consumers may be hesitant to purchase consumer products that are perceived as synthetic or derived with chemical substances. Prior studies suggested a preference for chemicals of natural origin and an irrational fear of synthetic chemicals, a phenomenon that is referred to as chemophobia. The aim of this study was two-fold as follows: to (1) investigate the levels of knowledge with respect to toxicological principles, chemophobia, and trust in stakeholders in South Korea and (2) experimentally test the effect of information provision on acceptance and willingness-to-buy for the specific case of trace chemicals in consumer products. For this purpose, an online survey and experiment was conducted with consumers in South Korea. Data suggested that in South Korea chemophobia correlated with an individual's knowledge regarding toxicological principles. Accordingly, a small intervention providing information on the dose-response mechanism increased consumers' acceptance of the presence of trace chemicals and subsequent willingness to purchase the products in this study. In conclusion, this investigation stresses the importance of educating the public regarding basic principles of toxicology to avoid chemophobia, while simultaneously discussing other factors that need to be taken into account such as attitudes and trust in communicators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Bearth
- Consumer Behavior, Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), ETH Zurich , Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Seok Kwon
- Global Product Stewardship, Research and Development, Singapore Innovation Center, Procter & Gamble (P&G) International Operations , Singapore
| | - Michael Siegrist
- Consumer Behavior, Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), ETH Zurich , Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Glinert LH. Communicative and Discursive Perspectives on the Medication Experience. PHARMACY 2021; 9:pharmacy9010042. [PMID: 33671135 PMCID: PMC8006053 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy9010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Taking the ‘medication experience’ in the broad sense of what individuals hear and say about their medication, as well as how they experience it, this paper explores diverse research on medication information available to patients and their modes and capacities for interaction, including personal circles, doctors and pharmacists, labeling and promotion, websites, and the patient’s own inner conversations and self-expression. The goal is to illustrate, for nonspecialists in communication, how the actors, messages, mediums, genres, and contextual factors within a standard ethnographic and social semiotic model of discourse and communication are operating, not always effectively or beneficially, to mediate or construct a patient’s medication experience. We also suggest how disparate insights can be integrated through such a model and might generate new research questions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lewis H Glinert
- Middle Eastern Studies and Linguistics, Dartmouth College, NH 03755, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Roosan D, Li Y, Law A, Truong H, Karim M, Chok J, Roosan M. Improving Medication Information Presentation Through Interactive Visualization in Mobile Apps: Human Factors Design. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019; 7:e15940. [PMID: 31763991 PMCID: PMC6902132 DOI: 10.2196/15940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the detailed patient package inserts (PPIs) with prescription drugs that communicate crucial information about safety, there is a critical gap between patient understanding and the knowledge presented. As a result, patients may suffer from adverse events. We propose using human factors design methodologies such as hierarchical task analysis (HTA) and interactive visualization to bridge this gap. We hypothesize that an innovative mobile app employing human factors design with an interactive visualization can deliver PPI information aligned with patients’ information processing heuristics. Such an app may help patients gain an improved overall knowledge of medications. Objective The objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of designing an interactive visualization-based mobile app using an HTA approach through a mobile prototype. Methods Two pharmacists constructed the HTA for the drug risperidone. Later, the specific requirements of the design were translated using infographics. We transferred the wireframes of the prototype into an interactive user interface. Finally, a usability evaluation of the mobile health app was conducted. Results A mobile app prototype using HTA and infographics was successfully created. We reiterated the design based on the specific recommendations from the usability evaluations. Conclusions Using HTA methodology, we successfully created a mobile prototype for delivering PPI on the drug risperidone to patients. The hierarchical goals and subgoals were translated into a mobile prototype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Don Roosan
- Western University of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Yan Li
- Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, United States
| | - Anandi Law
- Western University of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Huy Truong
- Keck Graduate Institute, School of Pharmacy, Claremont, CA, United States
| | - Mazharul Karim
- Western University of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Jay Chok
- Keck Graduate Institute, School of Pharmacy, Claremont, CA, United States
| | - Moom Roosan
- Chapman University, School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Boskovic A, Møllebæk M, Kaae S. Preparation of Direct Healthcare Professional Communication: An Exploratory Study on the Experiences and Perceptions of European Pharmaceutical Companies and the EMA. Ther Innov Regul Sci 2019:2168479019871041. [PMID: 31510799 DOI: 10.1177/2168479019871041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the regulatory requirement for cooperation between marketing authorization holders (MAHs) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the direct healthcare professional communication (DHPC) preparation, no literature has explored DHPCs from an industry-regulator perspective. This constitutes a significant knowledge gap as any possibility of improving current DHPC effectiveness depends on decisions in the cooperative preparation phase. Thus, this EU-centered study explores differences in perceptions and experiences of DHPCs of European MAHs and EMA. METHODS European MAHs (n = 6) and EMA representatives (n = 2) were interviewed. The verbatim transcripts were coded into themes using NVivo software. Interview analysis was performed following a phenomenological approach of meaning condensation. RESULTS The DHPC process was perceived as burdensome by the industry. One company stated the process was time-consuming either due to EMA's internal lengthy approval process or the translation activities with local company affiliates and national competent authorities. Three companies stated that DHPCs were not effective. One company stated that DHPCs are sent out due to legal obligations and not because of their use as a risk minimization measure (RMM). Newly emerged safety concerns were found difficult to phrase. Optimization proposals included improved timelines, scrutinization of healthcare professionals and better communication tools in clinical practice. CONCLUSION DHPCs were not perceived as optimal, although the most effective intervention as it targets healthcare professionals directly. Continuous evaluation by EMA of DHPCs and evaluation on how to reach healthcare professionals are necessary. It is believed that industry perceptions from this study can support EMA with improved regulatory decision making to benefit public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arnela Boskovic
- Copenhagen Centre for Regulatory Science, Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mathias Møllebæk
- Copenhagen Centre for Regulatory Science, Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susanne Kaae
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sayes CM, Hickey AJ. Perspectives for Characterizing Drug Component of Theranostic Products Containing Nanomaterials. Bioanalysis 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-01775-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
|
7
|
von Bredow D, Toussi M, Samad A, Kaplan S, Domahidy M, de Voogd H, Böhmert S, Ramos RS, Arora D. Evaluation of the effectiveness of risk minimization measures for trimetazidine: A cross sectional joint PASS survey among physicians in selected European countries. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2018; 27:1385-1392. [PMID: 30379361 DOI: 10.1002/pds.4675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In 2012, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) restricted prescription of trimetazidine (TMZ) to "add-on therapy for patients with stable angina pectoris who are inadequately controlled by or intolerant to first-line therapies." TMZ was no longer indicated for ophthalmology and otolaryngology. Risk minimization measure (RMM) was communicated to physicians. The survey presented here evaluated effectiveness of the RMM and assessed physicians knowledge and compliance with RMM. It also analyzed actual prescribing pattern of TMZ. METHODS A cross sectional, web-based survey was developed and conducted among prescribing physicians of TMZ across 12 European countries. Physicians' samples were weighted to account for the actual proportion of specialties within and across countries. RESULTS Using weighted samples, data from 1123 physicians and 8332 prescriptions were analyzed. Most (74.0%) of the physicians assumed stable angina pectoris to be an indication for TMZ. Three quarter of (75.7%) of these physicians were aware of the approved indication. Vertigo (62.1%), tinnitus (42.5%), declined visual acuity, and visual field disturbances (45.1%) were also presumed to be approved indications for TMZ, and physicians actually prescribed for these indications. Only 29.8% of the physicians remembered receiving RMM communications regarding TMZ. Most (90.5%) of the physicians expressed their interest to know and comply with the safety communications. Of all prescriptions, 33.9% were issued for add-on therapy for patients with stable angina pectoris. CONCLUSIONS RMM for TMZ prescription have been moderately effective. Improvement in physician's compliance with safety information of TMZ is necessary for patient's safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea von Bredow
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, IQVIA (formerly QuintilesIMS RWI), Courbevoie La Défense, France
| | - Massoud Toussi
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, IQVIA (formerly QuintilesIMS RWI), Courbevoie La Défense, France
| | - Abdus Samad
- Department of Drug Safety and Risk Management, Lupin Limited, Kalpataru Inspire, Mumbai, India
| | - Sigal Kaplan
- Department of Patient Safety & Pharmacovigilance, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries LTD, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Mónika Domahidy
- Department of Clinical Research, Gedeon Richter Plc, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hanka de Voogd
- Department of Clinical Vaccines & Anti-Infectives, Mylan EPD, Amstelveen, Netherlands
| | - Stella Böhmert
- Department of Post-marketing Studies, Sandoz International GmbH, Holzkirchen, Germany
| | - Rita Silveira Ramos
- Department of Scientific Affairs and Pharmacovigilance, Generis Farmacêutica, S.A., Amadora, Portugal
| | - Deepa Arora
- Department of Drug Safety and Risk Management, Lupin Limited, Kalpataru Inspire, Mumbai, India
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
The Additional Value of an E-Mail to Inform Healthcare Professionals of a Drug Safety Issue: A Randomized Controlled Trial in the Netherlands. Drug Saf 2016; 36:723-31. [PMID: 23797603 DOI: 10.1007/s40264-013-0079-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The usefulness and the impact of Direct Healthcare Professional Communications (DHPCs, or 'Dear Doctor letters') in changing the clinical behaviour of physicians have been debated. Changes in the current risk communication methods should preferably be based on the preferences of the healthcare professionals, to optimize the uptake of the message. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess whether safety issues are communicated more effectively with an additional e-mail sent by the Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB) than with the DHPC only. METHODS A randomized controlled trial was conducted amongst ophthalmologists and hospital pharmacists in the Netherlands, who were the target group of a DHPC that was issued for pegaptanib, a drug that is administered intra-ocularly in patients with macular degeneration. The intervention group (N = 110) received the pegaptanib DHPC, as well as the MEB e-mail. The control group (N = 105) received the traditional paper-based DHPC only. Two weeks later, the study population received an invitation to fill out an online questionnaire. Questions were asked about the respondents' knowledge and attitude regarding the pegaptanib issue, and any action they had consequently taken. Additional questions were asked about their satisfaction with the DHPC and the e-mail, and their preferred source of such information. RESULTS Forty respondents (18.6%) completed the questionnaire. Eighty-one percent of the respondents in the intervention group (N = 21) and 47% of the control group (N = 19) correctly indicated that a serious increase in intra-ocular pressure could be caused by pegaptanib injections (Fishers' exact test, p = 0.046). Nine respondents in the intervention group versus none of the control group respondents indicated that they had taken action in response to the pegaptanib safety issue (Fishers' exact test, p = 0.01). The majority of both the intervention group and the control group confirmed that they would like to receive an MEB e-mail with safety information about drugs in the future (90 and 95 %, respectively). CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that an additional e-mail might strengthen the uptake of the safety information provided to healthcare professionals, who prefer to receive an e-mail from the MEB as a source of such information, as well as the DHPC. This study may serve as a starting point for new strategies to improve risk communication regarding safety issues associated with drugs and its impact on prescribing.
Collapse
|
9
|
Bester N, Di Vito-Smith M, McGarry T, Riffkin M, Kaehler S, Pilot R, Bwire R. The Effectiveness of an Educational Brochure as a Risk Minimization Activity to Communicate Important Rare Adverse Events to Health-Care Professionals. Adv Ther 2016; 33:167-77. [PMID: 26801772 PMCID: PMC4769727 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-016-0284-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Educational brochures are an important tool for communicating risk to health-care professionals. It is important to evaluate the impact of any risk minimization tool to understand the effectiveness of the strategy. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness (i.e., respondents' awareness and understanding of the communication) of a targeted educational brochure distributed to health-care professionals (HCPs) as a risk minimization strategy for the communication of new rare and important adverse events (AEs). METHODS A prospective, non-interventional, online survey was performed following distribution of a specifically designed brochure highlighting new and important adverse events to a targeted HCP population, consisting of known users of the target medicine, as represented by a commercial database. Predefined multiple-choice survey questions assessed overall HCP awareness of the brochure and understanding and retention of information in those HCPs who reported receiving the brochure. RESULTS The educational brochure was sent to a total of 565 HCPs; 121 (21.4%) responded to the survey. The majority of respondents (95.0%) had previously prescribed or dispensed the target medicine. In all, 88 (72.7%) respondents said they had received the educational brochure, of whom 95.5% stated they had at least scanned the main points. More participants who had received the brochure (86.4% to 96.6%) answered the five individual survey questions correctly compared with those who did not (51.5% to 97.0%); this was significant for four out of five questions (P ≤ 0.005). Significantly more HCPs who received the brochure achieved the predefined pass rate (at least four of five questions answered correctly) compared with HCPs who did not receive the brochure (93.2% vs 57.6%, respectively; P = 0.000003). CONCLUSIONS Distribution of targeted educational brochures may be an effective risk minimization strategy to raise HCP awareness of new rare and important AEs; educational brochures may also be an effective channel for sharing information on how these AEs can be best managed and on the importance and means of reporting AEs. FUNDING Celgene Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia.
Collapse
|
10
|
The ISoP CommSIG for Improving Medicinal Product Risk Communication: A New Special Interest Group of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance. Drug Saf 2015; 38:621-7. [DOI: 10.1007/s40264-015-0301-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
11
|
Herber OR, Gies V, Schwappach D, Thürmann P, Wilm S. 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. BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2014; 15:163. [PMID: 25277783 PMCID: PMC4287479 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-15-163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Rudolf Herber
- Institute of General Practice, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstr, 5, Building 14,97, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Readability assessment of package inserts of biological medicinal products from the European medicines agency website. Drug Saf 2014; 37:543-54. [PMID: 24942755 DOI: 10.1007/s40264-014-0188-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Package inserts that accompany medicines are a common source of information aimed at patients and should match patient abilities in terms of readability. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine the degree of readability of the package inserts for biological medicinal products commercially available in 2007 and compare them with the readability of the same package inserts in 2010. METHODS A total of 33 package inserts were selected and classified into five groups according to the type of medicine: monoclonal antibody-based products, cytokines, therapeutic enzymes, recombinant blood factors and other blood-related products, and recombinant hormones. The package inserts were downloaded from the European Medicines Agency website in 2007 and 2010. Readability was evaluated for the entire text of five of the six sections of the package inserts and for the 'Annex' when there was one. Three readability formulas were used: SMOG (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook) grade, Flesh-Kincaid grade level, and Szigriszt's perspicuity index. RESULTS No significant differences were found between the readability results for the 2007 package inserts and those from 2010 according to any of the three readability indices studied (p>0.05). However, there were significant differences (p<0.05) between the readability scores of the sections of the package inserts in both 2007 and 2010. The readability of the package inserts was above the recommended sixth grade reading level (ages 11-12) and may lead to difficulties of understanding for people with limited literacy. CONCLUSIONS All the sections should be easy to read and, therefore, the readability of the medicine package inserts studied should be improved.
Collapse
|
13
|
Urushihara H, Kobashi G, Masuda H, Taneichi S, Yamamoto M, Nakayama T, Kawakami K, Matsuda T, Ohta K, Sugimori H. Pharmaceutical company perspectives on current safety risk communications in Japan. SPRINGERPLUS 2014; 3:51. [PMID: 24555168 PMCID: PMC3921345 DOI: 10.1186/2193-1801-3-51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 11/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
In 1987, a group infection of hepatitis in patients receiving a contaminated fibrinogen product was first reported to the Japanese regulatory agency. Eventually, this serious drug incident involved more than 10,000 cases of infection. In response, the Government of Japan established a responding inspection committee in 2008 to make recommendations for the restructuring of drug regulatory administration. The final report was issued in 2010. One agenda item of this restructuring was the improvement of drug-related safety risk communications. Our research group on drug safety risk communications, which is funded by the Government of Japan, surveyed pharmaceutical companies regarding their perspective on current risk communications. The survey was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire developed for this study which included the three operational domains of targets, contents, and measures of drug risk communication. Fifty-two of the 74 member companies of the Post-marketing Surveillance Subcommittee of the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Association participated, and this response rate of more than 70% was considered sufficient to ensure the external validity of the survey results. Results showed that the most highly prioritized aspect of risk messaging was the strength of evidence, and that outcome evaluation of risk communication gained recognition. Further, while physicians and pharmacists were the most prioritized communication targets, pharmacovigilance departments devoted the most resources to regulators, at more than 30%. The Internet was recognized as a useful public source of risk information, whereas Drug Guides for Patients delivered on the web were considered under-recognized. Further discussion of these results with the aim of enhancing the restructuring of the Japanese drug regulatory administration system are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hisashi Urushihara
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Yoshidakonoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan
| | - Gen Kobashi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Regulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, Yamagata, 990-9585 Japan
| | - Hideaki Masuda
- Research Center for Charged Particle Therapy, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555 Japan
| | - Setsuko Taneichi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Sports and Health Science, Daito Bunka University, 560 Iwadono, Higashi-Matsuyama-shi, Saitama, 355-8501 Japan
| | - Michiko Yamamoto
- Education Centre for Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Higashi-Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8543 Japan
| | - Takeo Nakayama
- Department of Health Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Yoshidakonoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan
| | - Koji Kawakami
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Yoshidakonoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan
| | - Tsutomu Matsuda
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Regulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, Yamagata, 990-9585 Japan
| | - Kaori Ohta
- Research Center for Charged Particle Therapy, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba, 263-8555 Japan
| | - Hiroki Sugimori
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Sports and Health Science, Daito Bunka University, 560 Iwadono, Higashi-Matsuyama-shi, Saitama, 355-8501 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
|