Performance-based User Testing of a Patient Drug Leaflet in the Elderly

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the readability and comprehensibility of the drug information on a patient leaflet for the senior by employing performance-based user-testing. METHODS: We included 36 elderly (65 years old or older) as the senior group (intervention group) and 36 adults (40~59 years old) as the adult group (control). We developed a questionnaire to test if participants could access to drug information. After completing a questionnaire, the participant was interviewed about their understanding over the patient leaflet. We performed t-test, χ2-test or Fisher's exact test to examine differences between two groups in primary outcomes. RESULTS: The senior were less likely able to find information (78%) than the adult (91%); they were much less likely able to understand information (42%) than the adult (69%). While we found differences between the ability of finding and understanding drug information in both groups, the senior group had greater difficulties in understanding all kinds of drug information. They had significant difficulties to remember information after reading the patient leaflet and frequently failed to find proper information even though they were allowed to access freely to the leaflet during interviewing. CONCLUSION: To secure safe and effective use of drugs for the senior, it is necessary to develop drug leaflets for the senior.