ABSTRACT
At numerous points in our lives, we rely heavily on the healthcare system to prescribe medication that will help aid the medical problems that we may face. Be it the common cold or severe back pain, understanding your prescribed medication can be a complex process. From a consumer perspective, it is extremely important to read the label on your prescription medication to ensure your own health and safety. However, despite the strict labeling regulations set by the FDA and US Pharmacopeia Authority, accidental overdoses, abuse, and death are still an apparent problem.
Identifying THE problem
If you have ever looked at your prescription medication label, you will notice that they may be hard to read and understand, lack visual aids, and contain confusing verbiage. Some prescription medications are also supplied with documents that contain pages of complex medical terminology that are often overlooked, feel intimidating, and never read by the consumer. In conducting consumer research, I am proposing to create a more efficient and problem free prescription label design that is effective and straightforward for the end user. A Label design features that are less intimidating, contain concise verbiage, and visual identifiers such as symbols could greatly ensure a consumer’s health and safety while consuming medications.
FINDING A SOLUTION
In conducting research and user survey, I am proposing to create a more efficient and problem free prescription label design that is effective and clear for a patient. I propose to change the hierarchy of text and eliminate unnecessary branding, so the most pertinent medication information is seen first.
SYMBOL SYSTEM
The implementation of a symbol system to help patients find their medication could greatly ensure their safety while consuming their prescribed medications. In some instances where space is limited, symbols could possibly be more effective than text. The implementation of a QR code makes it easy for to access patient and detailed medication information while on the go.
LABEL SYSTEM
Designing an effective prescription medication label system can be a very difficult task. With over thousands of different pharmaceutical medications out on the market, maintaining consistency throughout will be a challenge. In conducting a patient survey, I have found that the most people would love to see larger type, consistent instructions, and easy to understand medical terminology.
In doing so, I have created a labeling system that utilizes space efficiently, including the essentials and leaving out the unnecessary. Using a symbol system translates well across most language barriers and could potentially make it easier to understand for people that don't speak english. Concise instructions such as dosage and warnings are made clear. If specific drug information, medical terminology, or patient information is needed, a QR code can be scanned easily by any iOS or Android device to access it. An included Patient Medication Guide is also provided alongside your medication that provides additional information about your medication.
pATIENT mEDICATION gUIDE
3D PrototypeS
