Assessment of Patient Information Leaflets Usefulness in Selected Chronic Diseases - A South Indian Based Study

Objective: To develop and assess the usefulness of patient information leaflets.

Methods: Flesche Reading Ease (FRE) formula and Baker Able Leaflet Design (BALD) criterion and Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) questionnaire was applied to assess readability, layout and design characters and information quality in the developed leaflets. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) questionnaire was applied to assess patient's knowledge at pre and post administration of leaflets. Patient Information Leaflet Usefulness Assessment Questionnaire (PILUAQ)was applied to assess the usefulness of leaflet .

Results: Readability scores of disease information leaflets was found standard (55%) to fairly easy (45%) and standard (15%) to easy (85%) for drugs. All leaflets met the design characteristics. The EQIP Score of the leaflets was found to be 71%. The post education KAP scores were significantly (P<0.05) improved in all patients and in all disease categories. PILUAQ results suggest that the leaflets were found useful.

Conclusion: The study concludes that developed PILs have met the good readability and design characteristics and EQIP score. PILs have improved the post PIL administration KAP scores and usefulness. Practice Implications: Information leaflets should contain the adequate information, meet the readability and design characteristics and useful to the patients.