An observational survey, to assess the use of electronic technology as a means of communicating information contained within the Package Insert and Patient Information Leaflet.
Technical Requirements
Determine the participants’ accessibility to the electronic patient information leaflet.
Determine the participants’ demand for information contained in the patient information leaflet.
Determine the participants’ format preference for receiving the electronic patient information leaflet.
Solution
A combination of a fully configurable web-based platform and USSD
(Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) technology was used to achieve these requirements.
Deliverables/Milestones
The USSD delivery method was explained to the patients as drugs were delivered to their homes or places of work.
The patients took part in a survey to determine their ability to access the USSD platforms as well as their preference of accessing the PIL (patient information leaflet) electronically as opposed to paper.
The PIL was made available in four different languages namely, English, Sesotho, Zulu and Tswana.
Conclusion
The results indicated that the majority (more than 70%) of the participants could access the PIL with their mobile phones and also preferred the electronic delivery method.