Knowledge, Attitude, Perception and Behaviour of Patients towards Drug Leaflet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Patient-tested and -friendly information leaflets provide sufficient, accurate, and pertinent information about prescribed and over-the-counter medications to health consumers for their safety, enhanced satisfaction, improved outcomes and no medication errors across the globe. However healthcare consumers’ knowledge, attitude, behaviour and perception concerning different items of drug leaflets differ across the board. Objective: This study aimed to explore knowledge, attitude, behaviour and perception of patients towards drug/patient information leaflets in Riyadh, capital city of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a self-designed reliable questionnaire for collecting relevant data about drug leaflets from purposefully selected participants (n=319) attending ambulatory clinics of a main hospital of King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh. Results:  The majority of patients were females (75%), 61% patients were between the ages of 20 to 30 years, and 58% of the participants were educated to university level.  About 61% to 97% of participants agreed to knowledge, attitude and behaviour items, and only 26% patients perceived that the drug information provided by healthcare professionals suffices on its own without the drug leaflets. About 62 % of the participants observed that the information in the drug leaflet is more useful than the information given verbally by healthcare professionals. The majority of patients (66% to 99%) expressed variably positive behaviour and favourable attitudes toward drug leaflet information. The participants ranked ‘indications’ (31.4%) and ‘how to use’ (26.7%) drugs as the two most important sections in drug leaflet.  Conclusion: Drug leaflets are important sources of drug information for patients globally and improve their knowledge as well as positive effects on their attitude, perception and behaviour. Healthcare professionals need to encourage health consumers to read the drug leaflets which need to be patient-friendly and be written clearly in understandable lay terminology and native language.