Patient information leaflets for people with learning disabilities who take psychiatric medication

Summary European Community directives require that patient information leaflets should be supplied with all dispensed medications. The present authors could not identify suitable leaflets for people with learning disabilities and set out to produce leaflets on psychiatric medications. This paper describes the design process, which involved service users throughout the development of draft leaflets. A service‐user questionnaire (21 participants) identified gaps in medication knowledge and information sources. People had difficulties in reading and understanding medication labels and manufacturers' inserts, and overwhelmingly requested a readable leaflet about their medication. They also had limited access to information resources. These results informed a draft leaflet design. Consultation with users prompted a number of changes. A larger leaflet with pictures rather than symbols was preferred, and words and concepts needed adjustment. The present authors conclude that service‐user consultation during development of resources enables the content to focus on the needs of users. Word, concept and symbol comprehension should not be assumed, but tested. Further resources need to be developed.