Pharmacists' perception about design and content of medicine labels on prescription services in community pharmacies

Abstract

Background: Differences in perception among pharmacists and the absence of standards or regulations for labelling prescribed medicines in Indonesia make the labels patients receive have different designs and contents. Incomplete information and insufficient medicine label design can lead to medication errors. Objective: This study aimed to determine the pharmacists’ perception of the design and content of prescribed medicine labels. Method: This study was conducted by survey using an online questionnaire developed based on the "FIP Guidelines for The Labels of Prescribed Medicines" and Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia number. 73 the year 2016 concerning Pharmaceutical Service Standards in Pharmacies. Questionnaires were distributed through personal chat and social media groups of community pharmacists. Result: A total of 925 pharmacists from 32 provinces of Indonesia participated in this study. Respondents considered the most important information on the label of prescribed drugs  namely instructions for drug use (84.6%), patient name (81.6%), pharmacy name (76.1%), special instructions (71.5%), and pharmacist name (63.9%). For the label’s design, most respondents preferred printed and handwritten labels (61.2%). Conclusion: It can be concluded that different pharmacists' perceptions affect the labelling of prescribed medicines. There is a need for regulations or standards of labelling prescribed medicines.