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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 158-164 |
Number of pages | 0 |
Journal | J Patient Saf |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2010 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Choice Behavior
- Color
- Consumer Behavior
- Drug Labeling
- Drug Packaging
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Nonprescription Drugs
- Reaction Time