The document discusses pharmaceutical literacy and identifies gaps that contribute to low medication adherence. It analyzes three key areas: the pharmacy experience, medication-taking behavior, and health insurance literacy. For each area, it notes problems like a lack of awareness of pharmacists' roles, difficulties remembering medications, and the complexity of health insurance. The document proposes redesigning these experiences to improve health and pharmaceutical understanding while maintaining current processes. Each team member will focus on one area to identify opportunities to increase comprehension and better support patients' healthcare journeys. Addressing these issues could help more people access and maintain necessary care.

1. Collab Research Insights 2/11/2021
Pharmaceutical
Literacy
Izzy Rea, Amber Lanese, Josh Leidich
DESIGN 4650 - Collab Dsgn

2. PHARMACEUTICAL LITERACY / AS DEFINED
An individual’s capacity to obtain, evaluate, calculate, and
comprehend basic information about pharmacotherapy
and pharmacy related services necessary to make
appropriate medication-related decisions.
Source “: Medication Literacy: Why Pharmacists Should Pay Attention.” The Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy.
https:/
/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5008434/#:~:text=On%20the%20basis%20of%20feedback,to%20make%20appropriate%20medication%2Drelated

3. Research Data
MEDICATION ADHERENCE
50%
of medication is not being
taken as directed.
LACK OF PRESCRIPTION
20%
of prescriptions are
not being filled.
HEALTH INSURANCE CONFUSION
33%
of people are able to correctly
define copay, deductible, and
premium.
PHARMACIST
?
Many American’s do not
understand the value that
the pharmacist holds.
What We Know

4. THE PROBLEM
People are not taking their medications (at all or as directed), or
filling them. There is a lack of understanding surrounding the
pharmacy, prescription medication, and health insurance.
RELATION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
This causes the public to not get the care they need.
Leading to issues related to health.

5. Research Overview
PATIENTS
PHYSICIANS
HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM
Pharmaceutical Literacy Model
HYPOTHESIS: Pharmaceutical literacy is a 3 part section, and
lack of comprehension within one or more of these 3 sections
can cause medication nonadherence.

6. Research Overview
PATIENTS
PHYSICIANS
HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM
Pharmaceutical Literacy Model
Medical
Field
HYPOTHESIS: There seems to be a divide between the
patient and medical field that is causing this lack of
understanding.
A lot of time and money is put into understanding meds by
the experts, and creating those meds, but there is a divide
once meds are given to the patient. There’s not much time in
communicating the medication, and a lot is left to chance.

7. Areas of Focus
PATIENTS
PHYSICIANS HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM
AMBER JOSH IZZY
PATIENTS
PHYSICIANS HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM
PATIENTS
PHYSICIANS HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM
The Pharmacy Experience
focusing on the interaction between the
patient and pharmacist
Medication Taking Behavior
focusing on the daily lifestyle interaction
between the patient and their medication
Health Insurance Literacy
focusing on the the patient and their
understanding of health insurance
Digging Deeper to See the Gaps

8. PROPOSE
To redesign the pharmacy experience so that pharmacists are
used as a source of knowledge to improve the public’s health and
pharmaceutical literacy, while maintaining and improving the
current medication receiving process.
Slice 1
The Pharmacy Experience
PATIENTS
PHYSICIANS HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM

9. 65%
Of people know that a pharmacist can
assist patients in finding an
over-the-counter solution
13%
Of people know that a pharmacist can
advise patients about general
health topics (diet, stress, etc.)
26%
Of people interact with their pharmacist
beyond giving basic information
(asking questions about
medication, health, etc.)
Slice 1
The Pharmacy Experience
PROBLEM - LACK OF AWARENESS
The general public is not aware of the value that the
pharmacist’s role can play in their overall health.

10. IDENTIFY & PRESCRIBE
Feels ill/has problem
Slice 1
The Pharmacy Experience
ASSESS
Sees physician/doctor
GET
Goes to the pharmacy
TAKE
Medication at home/in life
The pharmacy experience is seen & designed
as the “GET” phase within a larger experience
of seeking care.

11. Slice 1
The Pharmacy Experience
Give Information
Once the prescription is ready
and they are in line for the second
time, they give technical
information: name, date of birth,
medication name.
Pay Ask Questions
Wait
They have to drive to the
pharmacy, then wait in line just to
wait in line again.
TAKE PHASE
Frustration & In A Hurry
Frustration over it not being
ready even when you got the text.
A sense of “I know what I need
and I just need to go get it.”
Anxiety
Over remembering everything to
tell them: Rx Number Etc.
Anxiety /Anger/ Frustration
I hope it’s covered! Or that was an
unexpected price!
Uncertainty
I have no idea what the
pharmacist can help me with.
They just give me the meds. If
there is something important they
will just tell me.
GET PHASE

12. Goes to the pharmacy
Slice 1
The Pharmacy Experience
Wait Info Pay Ask
IDENTIFY & PRESCRIBE
Feels ill/has problem
ASSESS
Sees physician/doctor
GET TAKE
Medication at home/in life
Asses Ask
PROBLEM - EXPERIENCE DESIGN
The current pharmacy process is designed in a way which
focuses on the technical act of giving rather than
understanding what the patient is getting.
AREA OF OPPORTUNITY
The pharmacist has more than just the role of the
medication giver, and they have the potential to be a source
of knowledge in the assess phase, the get phase, and in the
take phase.

13. PROPOSE
To redesign the experience of medication compliance between
medicines and patients to improve the public’s health and
pharmaceutical literacy, while maintaining and improving the
current medication consumption behavior.
Slice 2
Medication Taking Behavior
PATIENTS
PHYSICIANS HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM

14. 40%
Of people fail to adhere to treatment
recommendations or regimens
from a health care physician
70%
Of people non-adhere to regimens or
preventative treatments if too
complex or require lifestyle
changes
10-15%
Of people who encounter nursing home
admissions or hospital visits result
from patient non-compliance
Slice 2
Medication Taking Behavior
PROBLEM - LACK OF REMEMBRANCE & COMPLIANCE
The general public faces challenges of adhering to medications as
prescribed due to inability to remind and comply.

15. Medication at home/in life
Goes to the pharmacy
Slice 2
Medication Taking Behavior
IDENTIFY & PRESCRIBE
Feels ill/has problem
ASSESS
Sees physician/doctor
GET TAKE
The medication taking behavior is seen &
designed as the “TAKE” phase within a larger
experience of seeking care.

16. Slice 2
Medication Taking Behavior
Read & Take
Address the prompted label with
instructions on dosage and time
frame, then take medication
accordingly
Remind Assess
Ask
Once the medication has been
prescribed, they will ask
questions or provide concerns for
further clarification prior to
taking
GET PHASE
Eager & Hesitant
Eager to begin taking a
medication to improve health,
though hesitant as information
provided remains unclear
Concern
On remembering to take
medication as prescribed when
implementing into daily
lifestyle/routine
Anxiety
If medication was taken properly
as prescribed and the effect(s) will
improve health
Questionable
Did I succeed or fail to comply to
the proper consumption
procedure of my prescription
medication?
TAKE PHASE

17. Goes to the pharmacy
Slice 2
Medication Taking Behavior
IDENTIFY & PRESCRIBE
Feels ill/has problem
ASSESS
Sees physician/doctor
GET
PROBLEM - INTERACTION DESIGN
The current medication taking experience is designed
through means of delivering information associated with a
prescription medication to the intended patient in which
such information is acknowledged and adhered to.
AREA OF OPPORTUNITY
The behavior in which a patient complies to a prescribed
medication reflects the knowledge informed from the get
phase and the take phase. Sources of such knowledge can be
found beyond a bottle or pamphlet.
Medication at home/in life
Ask Take Remind Assess
TAKE

18. PROPOSE
To redesign the relationship between patients and healthcare
systems to improve the public’s health and health insurance
literacy, while maintaining and improving patient’s control and
understanding of their own health and insurance choices.
Slice 3
Health Insurance Literacy
PATIENTS
PHYSICIANS HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM

19. 50%
Of people correctly calculated
the out-of pocket cost for a
hospital stay involving a
deductible and copay
25%
Of nonelderly low-income citizens
spent 10% or more of their
income on out-of-pocket
expenses
12%
Of people command a level of
health literacy that allows us to
make informed decisions about our
healthcare
Slice 3
Health Insurance Literacy
PROBLEM - LACK OF DIGESTIBLE, ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION
The general public does not have access to comprehendable health
insurance information.

20. Slice 2
Health Insurance Literacy
Goes to the pharmacy
Pay
IDENTIFY & PRESCRIBE
Feels ill/has problem
ASSESS
Sees physician/doctor
GET TAKE
Medication at home/in life
Asses Not knowing
Creates a barrier
May not seek care
Health insurance literacy is seen & designed
as the “ASSESS” and “GET” phases within a
larger experience of seeking care.

21. Slice 2
Medication Taking Behavior
Seeking Help
Patients need to be aware of what
medical insurance they have
when going to the doctor
Pay
Symptom Awareness
Patients must be able to assess
their own health and recognize
symptoms
Unfamiliar and Overwhelmed
Unfamiliar because patients may
not know all symptoms.
Overwhelming because of
information overload
Hesitant
If the patient chooses a hospital
or received treatment that is not
covered by their insurance they
will have to pay out of pocket
Confused
What is a deductible and a
co-pay? Will my insurance cover
this? When will I get billed?
ASSESS PHASE IDENTIFY PHASE GET PHASE

22. Goes to the pharmacy
Slice 2
Medication Taking Behavior
Pay
IDENTIFY & PRESCRIBE
Feels ill/has problem
ASSESS
Sees physician/doctor
GET TAKE
Medication at home/in life
PROBLEM - INFORMATION DESIGN
Choosing the right insurance model for one’s self and
understanding its level of coverage and resources is
complex. It requires a lot of research from the individual
which is made even more difficult with nondigestible
information. A lack of understanding can lead to
exacerbated costs for medical care which in some cases,
may have been avoided.
AREA OF OPPORTUNITY
How may we alleviate some of the research and confusion
an individual experiences when choosing and utilizing an
insurance plan? Can we increase patient health insurance
literacy with little to no additional effort from the
individual?
Symptom
Awareness
Seeking
Help

23. Medication at home/in life
Ask Take Remind Assess
Relation to Public Health
Each three of these issues ties into the larger journey a person goes through to seek and receive
care. The areas we focused on are confusing or frustrating to a person, which makes it hard to see
the value in starting, seeking or maintaining care.
IDENTIFY & PRESCRIBE
Feels ill/has problem
ASSESS
Sees physician/doctor
TAKE
Goes to the pharmacy
Wait Info Pay Ask
GET
Not knowing
Creates a barrier
May not seek care

24. With each of us focusing on these topics, we can
improve the design of these processes so that the
level comprehension that a person has about
pharmaceutical related information improves.
Thus improving public health, because more
people are seeking or maintaining the care they
need.
PATIENTS
PHYSICIANS
HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM
AMBER
The Pharmacy Experience
Medication Take Behavior
Health Insurance Literacy
JOSH
IZZY
Relation to Public Health

25. Thank you.
Sources:
All of our primary and secondary research can be found on:
https://desis.osu.edu/seniorthesis/index.php/team-2/