DOCUMENTATION NOTE DRUG INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS: DO WE KNOW THE ANSWER?

Abstract

Under the Patient's Charter, The National Health Service has an obligation to become more responsive to the needs of patients. These needs have been shown by research to include the provision of good quality information, both oral and written, about patients' drugs. The provision of such information has been shown to increase compliance, patient satisfaction and confidence of patients in coping with their illness, drugs and any side‐effects. The information in this article was gathered as a preliminary to further research. It combines a review of the literature with information from a series of informal interviews with members of the local healthcare team. The article looks at where patients get drug information from, then moves on to examine the value of providing such information. Issues arising in the provision of drug information are considered and recommendations are provided which indicate long term concerns and approaches for further work.

Citation

FARMER, J. and VAN HENGEL, J. (1994), "DOCUMENTATION NOTE DRUG INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS: DO WE KNOW THE ANSWER?", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 50 No. 4, pp. 333-338. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb026937