Improving Medication Information Leaflets for Patients

Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 11 December 2025

Tags: Technology, Digital Health, Mobile Health, Digital Apps

About this Content

Aims

To gather patient perspectives on the side effects section of Medication Information Leaflets (MILs), specifically exploring how to balance providing necessary information whilst avoiding overwhelming or frightening patients. The insights will inform the review of over 500 MILs on HealthHub to ensure they are patient-friendly and easy to understand.

Background

Medication Information Leaflets (MILs) serve as a critical resource for patients to understand their prescribed medications. However, the effectiveness of these leaflets depends on their design, readability, and patient-centredness. Side effects are often the main concern of patients when starting new medication. Whilst MILs are commonly used to convey such information in a structured manner, drug company leaflets / product inserts are often technical and lengthy, making them difficult for most patients to comprehend and digest. In 2019, the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore National Medication Information (PSS-NMI) Workgroup was established to harmonise and develop MILs for local population and patients use. However, reviewing side effects information remains complicated due to the need to balance comprehensive disclosure against the risk of overwhelming patients. This focus group aimed to address these concerns by exploring patient preferences for MIL design, particularly focusing on the side effects section. Improved medication adherence through better MILs has the potential to positively impact health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs at a national level.

Methods

A focus group consisting of nine participants was conducted on 31st May 2024. Participants were recruited through SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network (SPAN), a self-driven network representing the collective voice of patients and caregivers. Participants were divided into three groups, each with three participants, one facilitator, and one note-taker.

Several weeks before the discussion, participants received pre-reading materials consisting of HealthHub MILs and company leaflets (downloaded from Health Sciences Authority, Singapore) for three medications: cabozantinib, quetiapine, and hydrochlorothiazide. Participants were assigned to leaflets based on their preference or randomly if no preference was indicated. They were asked to focus specifically on the side effects portion of the leaflets.

The four-hour session included general discussions on MILs, in-depth breakout room discussions on assigned medications, cross-sharing of key themes, and feedback on revised MILs. Discussion topics covered first reactions to MILs, comparisons with company leaflets, information priorities, decision-making processes, presentation of rare but severe reactions, and preferences regarding comprehensiveness versus simplification.

Results

Key findings touched on the following thematic areas: content and clarity of information, level of detail, visual presentation, personalisation and extent of influence on decision making to start a medication.

Lessons Learnt

Engaging patients directly revealed insights beyond clinical perspectives, including innovative suggestions using visual Red/ Orange/ Green traffic light systems, AI integration, and drug image libraries that may not have emerged, or can be used to validate those coming from expert-only consultations.

Keywords

Medication, drug information, side effects, medication adherence, patient engagement, patient education

Innovators' Details

Connect with this contributor!

Lim Kae Shin (KKH) - lim.kae.shin@kkh.com.sg

Lim Woan Chyi (TTSH) - woan.chyi.lim@nhghealth.com.sg

Project Attachment