Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications

National Surveys of

Prescription Medicine Information

Received by Consumers

National telephone surveys were conducted in 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998 to determine how much prescription medicine information consumers receive and through which sources.   Approximately 1,000 U.S. consumers who received a new prescription for themselves or a family member at a retail pharmacy during the previous month participated in each survey.  The consumers were asked whether they received oral counseling, at their physician's office and at their pharmacy, for five information categories.  The consumers were also asked whether they received any written information at each location.   If they did, the consumers were asked what type of written information they received.

Oral Information Results Chart, 1992-1998

Patients Who Asked for Information, 1992-1998

Written Information Results Chart, 1992-1998

For orally provided prescription medicine information, the percentage of consumers who were counseled about at least one category of information has increased over the past six years, although slowly.  Consumers were told primarily about directions for use (how much to take and how often to take).  In 1998, 24% of people were given both directions for use and risk information (precautions and side effects) at the doctor's office, and 14% of people were told both directions and risk information at the pharmacy.

A sub-analysis of the types of written information consumers received with prescription medicine showed that in 1998, 70% of Americans received written information that was longer than a brief sticker on the medicine container.  This figure compares with 67% in 1996, 54% in 1994, and 24% in 1992.  These percentages do not reflect the quality or usefulness of the information.  A survey is currently underway to collect patient information materials consumers are being given for selected prescription medicines and to systematically evaluate the patient information content.

The Future

Increasing the percentage of patients who receive both oral and written prescription medicine information has been included in draft objectives being developed for Healthy People 2010, Chapter 17, Medical Product Safety.

Objective #6: Increase to 95 percent the proportion of patients receiving, at the time their new prescriptions are dispensed, written information that conforms to the Action Plan for the Provision of Prescription Medicine Information.

Objective #7: Increase to 95% the proportion of patients receiving from prescribers, pharmacists, and other health professionals oral counseling information that conveys directions for use and risk information (precautions and warnings).

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Last updated: June 21, 2005

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