An analysis of drug information desired by the patient. (Are patients being told everything they wish to know under OBRA '90?).

The need for patient package inserts (PPI) has been a controversial issue for many years. In August 1995, the FDA proposed 'MedGuide', a mandatory PPI programme. Recent efforts to educate patients about drug therapy include the OBRA '90 (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) requirement for pharmacists to offer counselling to all patients receiving prescription drugs. In order to assess if patient information needs are being met, an 18-item survey was distributed to 873 patients at eight randomly selected New Jersey pharmacies until 100 patients had anonymously responded. Seventy-five per cent or more of respondents indicated that they received the following information from a health professional: medication name, reason prescribed, how often to take and duration of therapy. Less than 50% of respondents received information concerning: storage conditions, over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription only (Rx) interactions, what happens to the body if a dose is missed and how to avoid side-effects. Using a five item scale, every item was rated as important by at least 60% of respondents. Although information was reaching the majority of patients who responded, there were still some gaps between that which they considered to be important and information actually received. Some additional intervention might be beneficial to help to bridge these informational gaps.