Resumo:

Access to health information is not only a necessity for patients but also their right as citizens. This need reflects the desire for autonomy and citizenship, directly related to empowerment of the citizen. Leite and Ventura say (2011, p. 5) that empowerment is ‘the process by which those who hold power, in this case, health professionals, favor others (users) to acquire and use the necessary power (information empowerment) to make decisions that affect you or your life.’ In addition, there is a practical need that relates to the correct use of medications. Waarde (2010) comments that it is practically impossible to take medicines without information. Waarde (2010, p. 42) further states that “The aim of providing information about medicines to patients is clear: to enable patients to make decisions about medicine use and to enhance appropriate and effective use.”