What is an appropriate action if a patient asks for written instructions about a medication?

• A. Refuse to provide written information.
• B. Provide only oral instructions.
• C. Provide written information and offer to review it with them, reinforcing understanding.
• D. Tell them to read the package insert only.

Answer: (C)

When a patient asks for written instructions about a medication, the best approach is to give them clear, patient-friendly written material and offer to review it with them to reinforce understanding. This gives a durable reference they can take home, supports memory, and helps ensure they know how to take the medicine, what to expect, and what to do if issues arise. Using a teach-back approach—having the patient explain back how they will take the medication—helps confirm they truly understand.

Providing only oral instructions or directing them to rely solely on the package insert isn’t as reliable for understanding and memory. Refusing written material also reduces their ability to reference details later.