Journal des soins pharmaceutiques et des systèmes de santé
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Impact of Auxiliary Labeling on Prescription Bottles in the Community Pharmacy Setting

Sylvia Jackson, David Seal, Amanda Hirsch, Brea Parks, Samantha Sparks, Tameka Williams

Many community pharmacies apply auxiliary labels to prescription bottles in an effort to notify patients of important facts and information associated with the medication(s) they are taking. These auxiliary labels vary in color and message. Unfortunately, despite these brightly colored labels many patients disregard them or do not take the time to read, understand, or inquire about their messages and importance. This has been and is becoming a serious prescription problem. Simply reading and adhering to various auxiliary labels can and will help to decrease medication errors. Increasing patient awareness of the information on the auxiliary label(s) can potentially decrease fatalities associated with taking the wrong medications. Studies have shown that the problem with the auxiliary labels is not only related to disregarding them, but is heavily related to patients having low health literacy, meaning they simply do not understand what the auxiliary label is portraying to them. As health care professionals, it is our duty to help patients read, understand, and adhere to these auxiliary labels. This increase in patient awareness could potentially help significantly reduce medication errors and medication misuse associated fatalities. Based on the research conducted, it was found that patients read their prescription labels for the first fill of a medication, but do not read the prescription label for a refill. Most patients do not recognize several warning labels that they were asked to review. Patients did understand the directions and caution labels on their prescription bottles and realized that prescription warning labels are important for their safety. When questions arise about prescription and nonprescription medications the majority of patients would consult their pharmacist. Overall, pharmacists play a key role in making sure that patients know pertinent information in order for them to take the medication correctly and safely.