Better prescription labels proposed

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Poor patient understanding of prescription labels is prevalent and a safety concern, a U.S. expert says.

Dr. Alastair Wood -- a member of the American College of Physicians Foundation Medication Labeling Technical Advisory Board -- is proposing an evidence-based standardized Universal Medication Schedule, or UMS, for prescription medication container labels.

"The benefits of the UMS include use of the same dosing schedule by patients, physicians and pharmacists; reduced variability in how the medication is prescribed, reduced variability in how the prescription is interpreted by the pharmacist; improved ability of patients to understand how to correctly take their medications; and improved therapeutic outcome," Wood said in a statement.

Speaking at the annual National Health Communication Conference, co-sponsored by the ACPF and Institute of Medicine, Wood recommended prescription labels should:

-- Avoid jargon and present information in a patient-centered way.

-- Have distinguishable front and back label sides, larger type and other typographical cues such as bold print and highlighting.

-- Have a standard system of icons for warnings and other instructions.

Many of the recommendations were presented last October in an Institute of Medicine white paper.