Pregnant women awareness and attitude on use of patient information leaflets (PILs) in Ado Local Government, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Patient information leaflets are valuable documents that inform and guide users, particularly pregnant women, about medication. This paper examined pregnant women’s awareness and attitude toward the use of patient information leaflets. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design, using a structured questionnaire for data collection. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting three public comprehensive health centres in the Ado Local Government Area in Ekiti state, Nigeria, for two weeks while convenience sampling technique was used in selecting the patients. Participants included 120 pregnant women who attended antenatal clinics during the antenatal meeting days. Data were collected at the antenatal clinics using a questionnaire. Ninety copies of the questionnaire were returned and found useful for the study. The results showed that most of the pregnant women were aware of the patient information leaflets enclosed in medicine packs and the extent of use was encouraging. The pregnant women had a positive attitude to the patient information leaflet. Also, the respondents had a high level of patient information leaflet use. Reading difficulty (=2.91) was one of the biggest challenges for pregnant women when going through the patient information leaflets. The study also found that pregnant women's awareness and attitudes influenced their use of patient information leaflets. Among other things, it was recommended that health information professionals collaborate with healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical companies to ensure the accuracy, readability and cultural appropriateness of patient information leaflets for pregnant women.