A comparative evaluation of medicine package inserts for oral antidiabetic agents in Palestine

BMC Public Health

Table 3 Statistical differences between word counts for local and imported anti-diabetic medications

Variable	Local Median [Q1-Q3]	Imported Median [Q1-Q3]	Mean rank for local products	Mean rank for imported products	P value^a	Fold difference in mean rank
Therapeutic class	3.5 [1.5–4.5]	8.0 [3.8–8.8]	6.90	12.75	0.021	1.85
Indications	21.8 [12.8–27.8]	39.0 [26.3–48.8]	6.90	12.75	0.021	1.84
Drug dose	0.0 [0.0–13.5]	43.0 [6.5–109.3]	7.10	12.50	0.034	1.76
Missing dose	38.5 [29.8–56.3]	44.5 [19.8–88.5]	9.35	9.69	0.897	1.04
Directions for use	57.5 [25.8–77.8]	58.5 [53.5–103.0]	8.60	10.63	0.460	1.24
Overdose and management	36 [35.5–48.3]	104.0 [56.3–155.5]	6.10	13.75	0.001	2.25
Warning and precautions	36.5 [29.8–77.0]	349.0 [302.3–441.3]	5.50	14.50	< 0.001	2.64
Effect on ability to drive and use machines	0.0 [0.0–19.5]	63.5 [42.0–77.8]	6.70	13.00	0.012	1.94
Contraindications	44.0 [29.5–59.3]	128.0 [103.3–292.0]	5.85	14.06	< 0.001	2.40
Adverse drug reactions	60.0 [36.3–128.5]	367.5 [291.3–401.5]	6.30	13.50	0.003	2.14
Drug-drug interactions	56.0 [34.3–83.8]	293.0 [108.5–467.5]	6.10	13.75	0.001	2.25
Pregnancy considerations	14.5 [9.3–23.8]	29.5 [21.8–42.0]	6.70	13.00	0.012	1.94
Lactation considerations	10.0 [7.3–20.5]	16.0 [13.3–25.0]	7.75	11.69	0.122	1.51
Pediatric considerations	6.5[0.0–14.5]	10.0 [9.0–15.3]	8.20	11.13	0.274	1.36
Possibility of tablet splitting	0.0 [0.0–1.0]	4.0 [0.75–5.8]	7.10	12.50	0.034	1.76
Possibility of crushing and mixing with food or beverages	0.0 [0.0–5.0]	4.5 [1.0–5.0]	8.30	11.00	0.315	1.33
Storage	17.0 [16.5–23.3]	101.5 [96.5–103.0]	5.50	14.50	< 0.001	2.64

^aThe p value is bold where it is less than the significance level cut-off of 0.05

ISSN: 1471-2458