Clear Medication Labels for Better Public Health Outcomes: Tackling Non-Adherence in India
| dc.contributor.author | Beevi, Beema | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-06-27T08:38:37Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-06-27T08:38:37Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-05 | |
| dc.description.abstract | In the context of India’s diverse linguistic and educational landscape, medication label clarity plays a critical role in promoting safe and effective medicine use. This study investigates how the clarity of pharmaceutical labelling affects patient adherence, with particular attention to language accessibility and visual design. The primary aim was to examine the impact of label clarity on adherence, while secondary objectives included identifying barriers to comprehension, assessing public health implications, and proposing actionable recommendations. A quantitative survey method was employed, with responses gathered from 142 participants to examine how label design, language accessibility, and digital tools influence patient comprehension and medicationtaking behaviour. The findings revealed that over half of participants reported occasionally or frequently deviating from label instructions. This behaviour was closely linked to factors such as complex terminology, small font size, and the exclusive use of English on labels. In contrast, respondents who encountered clear, visually accessible labels with simplified language and pictograms reported better understanding and adherence. The results further demonstrated a strong public preference for multilingual labelling, colour coding, and the integration of QR codes and digital tools to support comprehension, especially among diverse linguistic groups. An overwhelming majority of 95.8% of respondents considered label standardisation important for patient safety and public health. These insights highlight the urgent need for pharmaceutical labelling reform to ensure inclusivity, reduce preventable medication errors, and improve health outcomes. This dissertation concludes by offering practical and policy-oriented recommendations. These include the adoption of user-friendly design features, incorporation of regional languages, and digital enhancements, with suggested implementation through national regulatory bodies like the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Limktations of the study are acknowledged, particularly the absence of inferential analysis, and future research is recommended to explore causal links between label improvements and long-term adherence behaviour across wider populations. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14136/256 | |
| dc.title | Clear Medication Labels for Better Public Health Outcomes: Tackling Non-Adherence in India | |
| dc.type | Thesis |