Making Pharmacy Information More Accessible to Patients

Pharmacy care cannot follow a one-size-fits-all model. Each patient arrives with unique experiences, challenges, and levels of health literacy. Community pharmacists, who often build long-lasting and trusting relationships, are well positioned to tailor their approach. For some patients, a quick interaction may be sufficient, while others may require 20 minutes of careful counseling. Equitable care means meeting people where they are, not applying the same rigid standard to everyone.

Structural clarity is also important. Simple measures such as clear signage and making it easy for patients to identify the pharmacist can remove barriers to accessing care. Too often, health systems rely on technical language or assume familiarity with medical terms that confuse patients. Just as a hospital visitor benefits more from a sign that says “X-ray” rather than “Radiology,” pharmacy information should be designed with patients in mind rather than professionals.

Pharmacists do not need to reinvent the wheel when improving accessibility. Many health literacy resources already exist, such as toolkits from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or design best practices from health literacy centers and organizations. These resources can guide the development of clearer patient materials, from pamphlets to pictograms, saving pharmacists time while improving understanding.

Equitable pharmacy care requires both individualized attention and structural improvements. By combining personal relationships with patients and proven health literacy tools, pharmacists can provide care that empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

On August 30, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is hosting the Health Literacy Summit, a pre-event meeting before the organization’s World Congress, which is taking place August 31 to September 3 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Health Literacy Summit will explore how pharmacists can improve patient outcomes through health literacy and will feature several expert lectures and panel discussions.

Drug Topics® recently sat down with Amy Howard, MS, PharmD, clinical assistant professor at the University of Maryland and the health literacy coordinator at FIP, and Laura Sahm, PhD, professor of clinical pharmacy at University College Cork, who will be speaking at the event, to discuss how pharmacies can create a more health-literate environment to support all patients.

READ MORE: Public Health Resource Center

Are you ready to elevate your pharmacy practice? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter and get the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips straight to your inbox.