[New medicine label to support self-medication in Mexico: the case of a children's analgesic].

OBJECTIVE This study presents the application of a method to design medicine labels centred in the user and applied to a Mexican children's analgesic. MATERIAL AND METHODS The method was developed by the Communication Research Institute (CRI) of Australia and consists of six stages that thoroughly consider all aspects related to medicine labels. This method was applied for the first time in Mexico by CRI and by the Centre for Advanced Studies in Design (CEAD), but it required a number of modifications to adjust it, like modifying the label's performance requirements and incorporating different questions to the protocol. RESULTS The application of this method to the children's analgesic improved significantly the localization and comprehension of the information by "users at risk", which guarantees that the general public will get adequate information for correct self-medication. CONCLUSIONS The application of this method led to sign the Guides for OTC labels in Mexico in 2006.