Research article

Why is medicine understanding important?

Many patients find medicine information difficult to understand. Medical terms and complex language can make it hard to know what a medicine does and how it should be used correctly. This can lead to misuse or to the medicine not being taken as prescribed.

Medicine understanding and adherence

Medicine understanding, also called health literacy, refers to the patient’s ability to understand information about their own treatment.

Research shows a statistically significant but relatively weak relationship between health literacy and adherence (Zhang et al., 2014). This suggests that understanding is one of several factors that influence how medicines are used.

Low health literacy may be associated with poorer health outcomes and difficulties following treatment (Berkman et al., 2011).

Simpler information may help

Measures that improve patient understanding may have a positive effect on adherence (Miller, 2016).

Non-adherence is a well-known challenge and can lead to poorer treatment outcomes and increased costs (Brown & Bussell, 2011).

Why LoclareMeds exists

• simplifies language
• reduces medical jargon
• offers information in multiple languages

This may contribute to better understanding and thereby better compliance.

Summary

• Medicine understanding affects how medicines are used
• The relationship with compliance is complex
• Simpler information may contribute positively
• Understanding is an important part of good treatment

References

• Berkman et al. (2011)
• Brown & Bussell (2011)
• Miller (2016)
• Zhang et al. (2014)