OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cognition of drug instructions in residents in China

so as to provide basis for meeting the residents ’ demand for drug information acquisition and guidance

and provide high-quality pharmaceutical care. METHODS: A nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted on the cognition of drug instructions

and statistical analysis was performed on the survey results. RESULTS: A total of 550 questionnaires were issued

and 525 valid questionnaires were recovered（ 525 respondents）. The valid questionnaires came from 155 regions in 29 provinces and cities in China. According to the survey results

when taking drugs

45. 52%（ 239 respondents） and 46. 67%（ 245 respondents） of the respondents "read the drug inserts in detail"and "read the drug inserts roughly"respectively. Age

education level and frequency of taking drugs had effects on the willingness of residents to read drug instructions（ P < 0. 05）. Totally 93. 90% of the respondents（ 493 respondents） believed that the drug instructions were of great help（ ≥ 6 scores）. Respondents with high demand for the contents of the drug instructions were "indications

effects and uses"

"methods and usage

dosage"

"adverse drug reactions "

"contraindications"and"precautions". However

only 9. 71% of the respondents（ 51 respondents） fully understood the instructions. The frequency of taking drugs and the willingness of residents to read drug instructions had effects on the understanding of drug information（ P < 0. 05） ."Too many professional terms"

"too much content

too complex"and "insufficient structural focus"were the main reasons for respondents did not understand the drug information in the drug instructions. 80. 57% of the respondents（ 423 respondents） considered that the instructions needed to be improved. CONCLUSIONS: Drug instructions are an essential source for residents to obtain drug information. Residents have a high degree of demand for drugs

yet lack of understanding

and there are hidden risks of medication safety. In pharmaceutical care

the content and form of pharmaceutical information should be improved and perfected according to the actual needs of residents and the drug instructions.