The variability and quality of medication container labels
The variability and quality of medication container labels
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DOI：
10.1001/archinte.167.16.1760
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发表时间：
2007-09-10
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Shekelle, Paul
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Shrank, William H.;Agnew-Blais, Jessica;Shekelle, Paul
背景：用药错误经常发生，不良的药物标签被认为是一个潜在的原因。我们评估了在社区分发的处方药容器标签的格式、内容和可变性。4种常用药物的相同处方（阿托伐他汀钙[立普妥]、阿仑膦酸钠[福善美]、甲氧苄啶-磺胺甲恶唑[复方新诺明]和布洛芬）在6家药店灌装（2家最大的连锁店、2家杂货店和2家独立药房）位于4个城市（波士顿、芝加哥、洛杉矶和奥斯汀[德克萨斯州]）。评价了主容器标签和辅助贴纸的格式和内容特征。标签独立编码由2个抽象的，和差异被调和consensus.Results：我们评估了85个标签后，排除11布洛芬处方，充满了在柜台上的容器，缺乏标签印刷在药店。药房名称或标识是71个（84%）标签上最突出的项目，平均字体大小为13.6点。药物说明（9.3分）、药物名称（8.9分）以及警告和说明贴纸（6.5分）的字体较小。颜色、粗体和突出显示最常用于识别药房和对药剂师最有用的物品。虽然主标签的内容基本一致，但不同药店的说明和警告贴纸的内容存在很大差异，独立药店使用此类贴纸的可能性较小（P < . 001）。没有布洛芬容器交付与食品和药物管理局批准的用药指南，按law.Conclusions要求：大多数容器标签的格式强调药房的特点和经常使用的药剂师，而不是使用说明或药物警告的项目。警告和说明贴纸的内容因所选药房而异。
Background: Medication errors occur frequently, and poor medication labeling is cited as a potential cause. We assessed the format, content, and variability of prescription drug container labels dispensed in the community.Methods: Identically written prescriptions for 4 commonly used medications (atorvastatin calcium [Lipitor], alendronate sodium [ Fosamax], trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole [Bactrim], and ibuprofen) were filled in 6 pharmacies (the 2 largest chains, 2 grocery stores, and 2 independent pharmacies) in 4 cities (Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Austin [Texas]). Characteristics of the format and content of the main container label and auxiliary stickers were evaluated. Labels were coded independently by 2 abstractors, and differences were reconciled by consensus.Results: We evaluated 85 labels after excluding 11 ibuprofen prescriptions that were filled with over-the-counter containers that lacked labels printed at the pharmacy. The pharmacy name or logo was the most prominent item on 71 (84%) of the labels, with a mean font size of 13.6 point. Font sizes were smaller for medication instructions (9.3 point), medication name (8.9 point), and warning and instruction stickers (6.5 point). Color, boldfacing, and highlighting were most often used to identify the pharmacy and items most useful to pharmacists. While the content of the main label was generally consistent, there was substantial variability in the content of instruction and warning stickers from different pharmacies, and independent pharmacies were less likely to use such stickers (P < . 001). None of the ibuprofen containers were delivered with Food and Drug Administration-approved medication guides, as required by law.Conclusions: The format of most container labels emphasizes pharmacy characteristics and items frequently used by pharmacists rather than use instructions or medication warnings. The content of warning and instruction stickers is highly variable depending on the pharmacy selected.