Side Effects of Side Effect Information in Drug Information Leaflets

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 1994

Side Effects of Side Effect Information in Drug Information Leaflets

H. Pander Maat ; R. Klaassen

Abstract

This study examines the way side effects information is presented in patient information leaflets about drugs. In a field experiment, we tested the effects of two attempts to improve a side effects paragraph in a leaflet about a nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug. First, a short introductory passage on the nature of side effects was added. Second and more importantly, we changed the frequency descriptors (FDs) for the side effects. A preliminary study had shown that the frequencies associated with common Dutch FDs are much higher than the writers of patient information leaflets and package inserts mean to convey. In our experiment we replaced the original FDs by lower-assessed FDs. For instance, soms (sometimes) was replaced by zelden (seldomly). Replacing FDs led to lower recall for the side effects mentioned in the leaflet. It also decreased the number of side effects experienced. Contrary to our expectations, lower FDs did not significantly increase the confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the drug, nor did they increase therapy compliance; incompliance was extremely rare in our sample of patients. Adding an introductory passage on the nature of side effects lowered FD interpretations. It did not significantly affect any of the other dependent variables.

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 1994-10-01
DOI: 10.2190/lek9-vujp-l3b9-v2ld
Open Access: Closed
Topics: affect and writing

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (2)

Madson (2024)

Cannabis Risk Communication: A Scoping Review with a Research Agenda

Technical Communication Quarterly
Davis (1999)

Imprecise Frequency Descriptors and the Miscomprehension of Prescription Drug A…

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (0)

No references match articles in this index.

Also cites 7 works outside this index ↓

10.1016/0738-3991(91)90061-9

↗
Van Haecht C. H. M., Vander Stichele R., Bogaert M. G., Package Inserts for Antihypertensive Drugs: Use by th…

↗
10.1007/BF00846163

↗
10.1038/clpt.1987.142

↗
10.1016/S0140-6736(80)91544-5

↗
10.1007/978-1-4899-0445-4_9

↗
Pander Maat H. (1992)

Studies of Functional Text Quality

↗

CrossRef global citation count: 8 View in citation network →