Consumer medicine information conundrums

Abstract

People have a right to receive accurate and up-to-date information about their medicines from their health professionals. Providing written and verbal medicine information can improve consumers' use of medicines, but it can also have a negative impact. Consumer Medicine Information is standardised written information about prescription and pharmacist-only medicines in Australia. It is a tool which can be used by health professionals during their consultations to explain about the treatment they are recommending, including its harms and benefits. If used effectively and appropriately, Consumer Medicine Information could become an important vehicle in ensuring the quality use of medicines. Although some consumers are receiving Consumer Medicine Information from their health professionals, the documents are generally underutilised.