Improving medication information systems utilizing a universal design framework

Objective

Almost a quarter of U.S. adults cannot determine what time they should take medication based on instructions printed on prescription medication labels. Taking medication at an incorrect dosage or alongside incompatible foods can lead to severe health complications.

Methods

The principles of Universal Design (UD) can guide the design of tools and materials that more effectively communicate medication information to all patients. UD aims to create designs that can be accessed and understood by people of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds. The framework has shown success in several fields, including the built environment, product design, and education. This demonstrated effectiveness suggests UD has the potential to improve the communication of medication information.

Results

Applying the evaluative framework identified strengths in perceptible information and flexibility of use across audio aids and digital platforms. However, these tools fail to uphold simple and intuitive use for individuals with low digital health literacy. Applying UD to prescriber-modifiable language can improve simple and intuitive use and tolerance for error, but it encounters limitations in the principles of size and space and low physical effort. These examples highlight the effectiveness of a UD framework in identifying gaps in information access and guiding the creation of more inclusive design approaches.

Conclusion

Applying UD principles can address healthcare inequity and create a safer, more reliable medication information system for patients.

Innovation

The recent FDA proposal for new Patient Medication Information sheet highlights the need for better communication of medication information. To our knowledge, Universal Design (UD) has not yet been applied to medication information systems. Thus, we propose utilizing Universal Design (UD) as a framework to evaluate and improve medication information systems.