BackgroundPackages leaflets (PLs) are essential for the safe use and efficacy of medicines.AimsTo quantify the opinion of users of medicines on PLs through the application of a self-administered Likert scale, taking into consideration subjects’ sociodemographic data.Methods Participants were enrolled from two Portuguese regions: urban/littoral (Lisbon) and rural/interior (Centre). 503 participants were included: 53 per cent males, 45 per cent 12 years of schooling). A questionnaire was used to collect the sociodemographic data. A Likert scale was self-administered to rate the characteristics of 12 randomized PLs (6 from prescription medicines and 6 from over-the-counter medicines) (August-December 2014). An invitation was send to several institutions (e.g., municipal councils). The inclusion criteria were: agreeing, be capable of reading/writing, and be more than 17 years old.Results In the Likert scores obtained, no significant differences were found related to region, sex, marital status, age group (≥65 years and other), and employment status of participants. By contrast, significant differences were found related to education (2=42.747; p 12 years of schooling, more regular reading habits (2 or more books/year), higher income and less frequent medicines use, showed a more negative global opinion on PLs.ConclusionSociodemographic data are important to understand users’ opinion on PLs. It seems that more educated subjects are more demanding. A lower socio-economic status positively influenced the participants’ opinion, with subjects’ poorer education being a relevant factor in this population. A higher frequency of taking medicines also positively contributed to a better opinion, probably due to a greater familiarity with PLs
