“Noise” in the process of communication in the prospectus of medicines as a part of the Gray Literature

Abstract

Introduction: the leaflets included in the packaging of the medicines are informative documents that are part of the “Gray Literature”. The written information that appears on the leaflets of all medicines is made through the use of a very technical and specific language that not everyone can easily understand. Objective: to identify and analyze the comprehension problems that many of the potential users may suffer when reading the information corresponding to the prospectus of an over-the-counter medicinal specialty, or with a prescription, due to the use of specific terms that are not known by a large part of the population. Method: it is based on conducting a survey aimed at a target audience between 18 and 65 years of age or older, and of both sexes. The survey was conducted through the Internet during the months of July and a part in August of 2018 throughout the Spanish territory. Results: a diagnosis of the situation was established, a series of questions were created on the reading habits of the prospectus by the different age groups of the Spanish population, many participants communicated their own ideas about the necessary change in the language used in the medicine prospectus and stressed the need for greater involvement in communication processes by the doctor and the pharmacist. Conclusions: based on the results of the surveys. According to them, proposals will be made to the competent authority to improve the communication of the health leaflets destined to the consumption and use of the population. For example, use of visual communication in prospectus and synonyms of technical words, according to their etymology. For instance, gastritis: inflammation of the stomach.