Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Indexed by Science Citation Index (SciSearch), International Pharmaceutical Abstract, Chemical Abstracts, Embase, Index Copernicus, EBSCO, African Index Medicus, JournalSeek, Journal Citation Reports/Science Edition, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), African Journal Online, Bioline International, Open-J-Gate

ISSN: 1596-5996 (print); 1596-9827 (electronic)-

Home | Back Issues | Current Issue | Review manuscript | Submit manuscript


	This Article
	Abstract
	Full-Text (PDF)
	Table of contents
	Comments
	Letters
	Comments to Editor

	e-mail Alert
	Sign Up

Research Article

Readability of Malaria Medicine Information Leaflets in Nigeria

Asa Auta^*, David Shalkur,Samuel B Banwat and Danlami W Dayom

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria

For correspondence: E-mail: asaauta@yahoo.com Tel: +234-8030846692

Received: 18 December 2010 Revised accepted: 16 September 2011

Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Oct 2011; 10(5): 631-635

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v10i5.12

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the readability of malaria medicines information leaflets available in Nigeria.

Methods: Fourty five leaflets were assessed using the Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) readability test and by examining them for paper type, font size type, use of symbols and pictograms, and bilingual information.

Results: The SMOG readability data revealed that the mean United State reading grade level for malaria medicines information leaflets available in Nigeria was 13.69 ± 1.70. This value is equivalent to a tertiary level of education in Nigeria. The study also revealed that 6.7 % of the leaflets were glossy; 6.7 % contained symbols and pictograms; 42.2 % of the leaflets had a font type size < 8; and only 2.2 % of the leaflets were produced in both English language and one of the major local languages of Nigeria.

Conclusion: Malaria medicine information leaflets available in the Nigerian market are not readable to the majority of the population. There is need for pharmaceutical companies to produce readable medicine information leaflets.

Keywords: Malaria, Medicine information leaflets, Readability, Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook.