11. taking medicine reading medical labels (part 1)
TRANSCRIPT
11 • TAKING MEDICINE • READING MEDICAL LABELS (PART 1)
HEALTH LITERACY CURRICULUMAdult Learner
Program
1
11. Taking MedicineReading Medical Labels (Part 1)
Objectives Learners will:• Recognize the words “tablet,” “pill,” “capsule,” “teaspoon” and “tablespoon.”• Be able to ask three questions to a health care provider/pharmacist about
prescriptions.• Read and understand the information on prescription bottles.• Sample capsules, liquid and tablets, or pictures
Materials Needed Before class, visit this website, www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/Health/healthindex.html#Doctor, to download Kate Singleton’s picture story “A Doctor’sAppointment.”Board or chart paperMakersPictogram flashcardsOverheads: of 3 medications; sample medicine labelsAudio CD (“I’m giving you a prescription…”)Handouts: Copies of picture story from the web, Kate Singleton’s “A Doctor’s
Appointment”; 11a (Pictogram Answer Key); 11b (Reading Labels); 11c(Questions to Ask Your Doctor); 11d (Listening)
Activity 1Picture Story
Taking Medicine1. Hand out copies of Kate Singleton’s “A Doctor”s Appointment.” Elicit the
picture story from learners.2. Write the story as a class, or in small groups.3. Discuss: “Have you had a problem like this? What can you/did you do?”
Activity 2InterpretingPictograms
1. Show examples of medicine (e.g., liquid, tablet, capsule) or pictures, and goover terms.
2. Write the words on the board.3. Hand out 3 or 4 Pictogram flashcards to each group of 4 to 5 learners.4. Explain that these are pictures for instructions about taking medicine.5. Ask learners to guess what the pictures represent.6. Members of the class can share their responses. OR, use overheads of the
pictograms and do this activity as a whole class.7. Hand out the Pictogram Answer Key (11a) to check.
11 • TAKING MEDICINE • READING MEDICAL LABELS (PART 1)
HEALTH LITERACY CURRICULUMAdult Learner
Program
2
Activity 3Reading
PrescriptionLabels
1. Using the overhead projector, show the sample medicine labels. Ask questionsabout them: “What information do you see?” [Elicit: name, address, telephone]“How many pills do I take?” “How often do I take this?” “What is the doctor’sname?” “Can I get a refill?”
2. As an alternative, you can use worksheets 11b that use the same three labels.Work as a class to complete the first medication, and then work in partners to dothe remaining two.
[Note: The labels used in this activity are representative of actual prescriptionsfound in the U.S. Labels are not standardized — one prescription may say“doctor,” another “prescriber.” Information may appear in different places on thelabels. The labels used in this activity are intentionally not standardized so as toexpose the learner to what she or he may encounrter in the real world. You maywant to highlight the differences to your learner and explain them.]
Activity 4Asking
Questions
1. Either as a class or in small groups, brainstorm with learners: “What should youask the doctor or pharmacist about your medicine?” If done in small groups,share as a class.
2. Hand out worksheet 11c, Questions to Ask Your Doctor. Ask learners to read thelist and put a check by the ones the class named in step 1.
3. Read the questions and discuss why these questions are important.
Activity 5Listening
1. Hand out worksheet 11d. Listen to the recorded dialogues [on CD].2. Ask learners to listen to the conversations between doctors and patients, and
check the instructions they hear.3. Check answers as a class.4. Ask learners to listen again and answer the questions.5. Check answers as a class.
Technology Additional website practice: www.mcedservices.com/medex/medex.htm. Ask thelearners to do Prescription Labels quizzes 1 and 2. [Note: The other quizzes are toohard, so don’t do them!]
Adult LearnerProgram
311a
Pictogram Answer Key
Take by mouth Take by mouth
Store in refrigerator. Do not take with meals. Take with meals.
Take 1 hour after meals. Take 2 times a day.
Take 1 hour before meals.
Take 3 times a day. Take 4 times a day, with
meals and at bedtime. Take until gone. Take 2 hours before meals.
Do not take if pregnant. Do not take if breast-feeding. Shake well. Do not drink alcohol while
taking this medicine.
This
medicine
may make
you drowsy.
Do not share your medicine with others. Do not refrigerate.
Do not drive if this medicine makes you sleepy.
This medicine may make you dizzy.
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am
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f th
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is t
he d
oct
or’s
nam
e?
What
is t
he p
atient’s
nam
e?
What
is t
he p
harm
acy
’s p
hone n
um
ber?
How
many p
ills
do y
ou t
ake e
very
day?
How
many p
ills
are
in t
he b
ott
le?
Can y
ou g
et
a r
efill?
When d
oes
the m
edic
ine e
xpire?
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is t
he n
am
e o
f th
e m
edic
ine?
What
is t
he d
oct
or’s
nam
e?
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is t
he p
atient’s
nam
e?
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is t
he p
harm
acy
’s p
hone n
um
ber?
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many p
ills
do y
ou t
ake e
very
day?
How
many p
ills
are
in t
he b
ott
le?
Can y
ou g
et
a r
efill?
When d
oes
the m
edic
ine e
xpire?
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is t
he n
am
e o
f th
e m
edic
ine?
What
is t
he d
oct
or’s
nam
e?
What
is t
he p
atient’s
nam
e?
What
is t
he p
harm
acy
’s p
hone n
um
ber?
How
many p
ills
do y
ou t
ake e
very
day?
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many p
ills
are
in t
he b
ott
le?
Can y
ou g
et
a r
efill?
When d
oes
the m
edic
ine e
xpire?
32
1
11b-
2
Adult LearnerProgram
7
Questions to ask your doctor about your medicine:
• What is the name of this medicine?
• Why do I need this medicine?
• Will this medicine make me sleepy?
• How often do I take this medicine?
• How many pills do I take every day?
• How many days do I take this medicine?
• I also take (name of your medicine). Is that a problem?
• Do I take this medicine with food? For women: Always tell your
doctor if you are pregnant or
nursing or trying to have a baby! • Can I drink alcohol with this medicine?
If you have questions
about medicine:
Call your doctor or pharmacist.
You can also call the Poison Control Center:
1-800-222-1222 or 1-212-POISONS
11c
Adult LearnerProgram
8
Doctor: I’m giving you a prescription for penicillin. I’d like you to take 2 capsules in the morning, and 2 in theevening. Take the medicine with some food. Do you have any questions?
Patient: I also take antacids. Is that OK?Doctor: No problem.
Doctor: Here’s your prescription. You should take it 3 times a day.Patient: OK. Can I also take aspirin?Doctor: If you have pain, yes. Aspirin is fine. But don’t drink any alcohol.
Doctor: Here is your prescription for an acid blocker. This will help your stomach. Take it before you eat dinner.Patient: Do I also take it before breakfast?Doctor: No, just once a day.
Doctor: Here is your prescription. You need to take this at bedtime for two weeks.Patient: Is it OK to drive while I take this medicine?Doctor: Yes, you may. But don’t drink alcohol.
Listen to the dialogues.
Check the instructions you hear.
Take once a
day
Take twice a
day
Take with
food
Don’t drink
alcohol
Don’t take
antacids
1.
2.
3.
4.
Listen again and answer these questions:
1. How many pills must this patient take every day?
Four
2. What can he take for pain?
Aspirin
3. When should she take this medicine?
Before dinner
4. Can she drive when she takes this medicine? Yes.
11d
Teacher’s Version
Adult LearnerProgram
911 Pictograms-A
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Adult LearnerProgram
1011Pictograms-B
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Adult LearnerProgram
1111Pictograms-C
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Adult LearnerProgram
1211 Pictograms-D
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Adult LearnerProgram
1311 Pictograms-E
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