Merits of using color and shape differentiation to improve the speed and accuracy of drug strength identification on over-the-counter medicines by laypeople.

Elizabeth Hellier*, Mike Tucker, Natalie Kenny, Anna Rowntree, Judy Edworthy

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the utility of using color and shape to differentiate drug strength information on over-the-counter medicine packages. Medication errors are an important threat to patient safety, and confusions between drug strengths are a significant source of medication error. METHOD: A visual search paradigm required laypeople to search for medicine packages of a particular strength from among distracter packages of different strengths, and measures of reaction time and error were recorded. RESULTS: Using color to differentiate drug strength information conferred an advantage on search times and accuracy. Shape differentiation did not improve search times and had only a weak effect on search accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Using color to differentiate drug strength information improves drug strength identification performance. Color differentiation of drug strength information may be a useful way of reducing medication errors and improving patient safety.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)158-164
Number of pages0
JournalJ Patient Saf
Volume6
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2010

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Choice Behavior
  • Color
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Drug Labeling
  • Drug Packaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nonprescription Drugs
  • Reaction Time

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