Improving Patient Safety
Read Improving Patient Safety and check the IELTS Reading answers. One of the most prominent design issues in pharmacy is that of drug packages and the patient information leaflets (PILs) included in them. Many pharmacists are concerned that current designs are 'accidents waiting to happen'. The UK…
Passage preview
One of the most prominent design issues in pharmacy is that of drug packages and the patient information leaflets (PILs) included in them. Many pharmacists are concerned that current designs are 'accidents waiting to happen'. The UK government shares this concern and, in 2003, the National Patient Safety Agency created a new role, appointing Colum Lowe, who has 14 years' experience as a designer in the private sector, as head of design and human factors.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- attribute verb
To regard something as being caused by or resulting from a specific person or factor
Investigators attributed the tragic injection accident to the illegible print on the drug container.
- auto-injector noun
A medical device designed to deliver a single dose of a particular drug, usually life-saving medication
The exhibition showcased a new adrenaline auto-injector designed for easier use during an allergic emergency.
- blister pack noun
A type of packaging where products are sealed in plastic bubbles with a foil or cardboard backing
Arthritis sufferers often struggle to remove small tablets from traditional blister packs without assistance.
- commission verb
To formally request or order the production of something, such as a design or piece of research
Marketing teams often commission external firms to develop distinctive packaging for new pharmaceutical products.
- distinguishability noun
The quality of being easily recognizable or different from other similar items or objects
Attractiveness and distinguishability are critical factors for over-the-counter drugs to prevent consumer confusion.
- legislation noun
A law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament
Experts remain skeptical about whether current legislation effectively addresses the safety needs of elderly patients.
- practical context noun
The real-world circumstances or environment in which an object or process is actually used
Critics argue that packaging designers fail to view their products within the practical context of home use.
- regulatory authority noun
A government agency responsible for exercising autonomous authority over a specific area of human activity
Many regulatory authorities lack the necessary resources to properly evaluate the clarity of packaging information.
- typescript noun
The style, appearance, or specific font used in printed material; a particular type of lettering
The investigation concluded that the poor choice of typescript on the label contributed to the medical error.
- visually impaired adjective
Having a permanent loss of vision that cannot be fully corrected by glasses or medical treatment
Pharmaceutical companies must consider how packaging modifications like Braille will benefit visually impaired patients.
Answers with explanations
- 27. C
The statement connects the elderly to a need for containers that don't require force. Richard Mawle (C) explicitly notes that child-resistant packs based on **strength** can block **older people**, implying they would benefit from designs based on cognitive skills instead.
- 28. D
The statement points out a potential negative impact on sighted people when packaging is adapted for the blind. Karel van der Waarde (D) directly raises this concern, stating it is unknown how much the reading of **visually able patients will be impaired** by adding Braille.
- 29. B
The statement asserts that special containers haven't stopped accidental swallowing. The Child Accident Prevention Trust (B) confirms this, reporting that despite the use of **child-resistant lids**, children still swallow medicines because the lids are **not yet fully effective**.
- 30. A
The statement stresses that designers must consider real household usage. Thea Swayne (A) provides the example of giving medicine in the middle of the night, asserting that **packaging should be designed for moments such as these** rather than ideal hospital settings.
- 31. D
The statement criticizes authorities for looking at containers in isolation rather than comparing them. Karel van der Waarde (D) makes this exact point, stating that regulatory authorities **only see one box at a time** instead of evaluating **several together** in a practical context.
- 32. C
The statement argues that the sequence of medical information is flawed. Richard Mawle (C) highlights this issue by pointing out that there is 'an awful lot of junk at the beginning' of leaflets, questioning why vital safety warnings are pushed further down instead of being listed first.
- 33. E
The blank asks who writes the initial proposal for over-the-counter drugs. The text explicitly states that the **marketing team** prepares the initial brief. Therefore, option E (marketing team) is the correct match.
- 34. C
The blank asks who is responsible for producing the designs for over-the-counter drugs. The passage explains that because attractiveness is important, these designs are commissioned from an **external design team**. Option C matches this.
- 35. A
The blank asks who the selected designs are presented to for testing. The text explicitly states that two or three designs are then tested on a **consumer group**. This makes option A (consumers) the correct answer.
- 36. D
The blank identifies who creates designs for prescription-only drugs. The passage contrasts these with over-the-counter drugs by stating they are created **in-house** by the company's **design team**. Option D (in-house design team) is the correct choice.
- 37. B
The blank asks who receives the in-house design next. The text explicitly mentions that after applying the house design, the team is **handing it over to design engineers**. This points directly to option B.
- 38. B
The question asks for the design flaw that caused a fatal injection error. The text explicitly states that investigators attributed the tragedy to the **poor choice of typescript** (style of print) on the container. The options about an incorrect label or bottle shape are incorrect as they contradict the text.
- 39. C
The question asks about the argument for using black-and-white packaging. The passage states that without color distinctions, people would have no choice but to **read every box carefully** (pay more attention to the label information). Options suggesting consumer dislike or visual impairment benefits are not mentioned in this context.
- 40. A
The question asks why the author mentions 'the popper' and 'Pluspoint'. These products are introduced immediately after the phrase 'On a positive note' to highlight a recent exhibition of **new designs**. They serve as specific examples demonstrating that innovation and **progress is being made** in user-friendly pharmaceutical packaging.