Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 12:00 p.m
Berlin – The font is too small, too complicated and once you have unfolded it, you can no longer put it back in the packaging: many patients do not read the information leaflet for medication. It can provide information on many questions that may be important before taking medication. The Health Knowledge Foundation explains what the leaflet contains and how to understand it.
The fact that patient information leaflets are often difficult to understand has also been noticed by the EU Commission, which found in a 2017 test report that the language used is often too complicated. In addition, the design is not very user-friendly. Some patients therefore put the paper aside without reading it and trust that the explanations from the doctor or pharmacist are sufficient. But is that really always the case? The Health Knowledge Foundation explains why it is important to take a look at the package insert and has created a translation aid for use at home.
Important information: That’s why you should read the package insert
In the doctor’s office or pharmacy, not all information about taking the medication can always be provided in such a short time. It can therefore be useful to take a look at the package insert, regardless of whether it is an over-the-counter or a prescribed medication. The package insert contains relevant information, ranging from how to take it correctly, to side effects or what to do in the event of intolerance, to how to store it correctly:
The package insert contains the following information
Is the medication suitable for your symptoms? Can the medication be taken if there are certain pre-existing conditions? How is the medication taken correctly? Can you drive or drink alcohol after taking medication? How does the medication interact with other medications or foods? What side effects can occur? What side effects should you contact your doctor about? How do you store the medication correctly? Directly to the article “Information leaflet: That’s why you should read it”
What does what mean? If questions arise while reading
Some wording in the package insert can raise more questions than provide clarification. What does e.g. mean? B. Contraindication? How frequently does a side effect have to occur to be considered common? What period of time is meant by the phrase “before eating”? In order to better understand the leaflet, the Health Knowledge Foundation offers a translation aid on its health portal that you can download and print out.
Understanding the package insert: translation help for at home
The leaflet translation aid can be downloaded from the Health Knowledge Foundation’s health portal:
About the Health Knowledge Foundation:
The non-profit, operational Health Knowledge Foundation based in Berlin wants to strengthen the competence of people in Germany with regard to health and prevention and reduce the information asymmetries between doctors and patients. To this end, it creates, among other things, health information that is understandable to laypeople based on current scientific findings, shows prevention options and treatment alternatives and promotes health knowledge in general. The founder is the Association of Private Health Insurance.