Table 3.

Themes, subthemes, and representative quotes of the participants.

Themes	Subthemes	Representative quotes
		Patients	Professionals
Functional literacy	- Concentrate on essential information related to current medication - Challenges in obtaining information - Insufficient initiative	P2-”Sometimes I just check the instructions and mainly look at the contraindications, not really paying attention to much else.” P8- “I’m trying to find better ways to get information about my medication, but I’m not sure where to start. Honestly, after taking it for so many years, I’ve kind of lost interest in figuring it out.” P11-”I’ve never really paid attention to medication information.” P14-”I didn’t pay much attention to medication information; I just trusted the hospital and didn’t actively keep track of it myself.”	M1- “Patients should understand their daily medication regimen, including how much they should take and what to look for on the medication labels.” M3- “Patients should familiarise themselves with the basic names of their medications, the dosages, and the effects they can expect.” M5- “They need to master the proper method of administration and know the duration the medication should be taken.” M6- “First, it’s important to know the appropriate timing for each medication—some are intended for morning use, while others are better suited for the evening. Taking medication at the wrong time can impact their daily routine. Moreover, patients should be aware of the common side effects associated with the psychotropic medications they are taking.”
Communicative literacy	- Methods of accessing medication information - Utilization of social support networks	P5- “I ask my parents about medications that I don’t understand, and I also consult via the internet.” P7- “When I have a follow-up appointment, the doctor sometimes prescribes me a new medication. If I’m not sure what it does, I ask the doctor right then and there.” P10- “I’ll ask my doctor about how long I need to stay on the medication.” P14- “I go online to read about other people’s experiences with the same medication—the challenges they faced and how they managed to overcome them and beat the illness. It really inspires me and gives me hope!”	M1- “The patient is interested in whether the medication has any effect on their body.” M2- “Some patients may have questions about why they’re prescribed certain medications. For example, someone with bipolar disorder might be prescribed valproic acid, a drug commonly used for epilepsy. This can lead to doubts, as they might think, “I don’t have epilepsy, so why am I taking this medication?” This kind of concern is common among patients who are prescribed anti-epileptic medications for other conditions.” M3- “One of the most common questions patients ask is, ‘What effect will this medication have? Why am I being prescribed this?”
Critical literacy	- Side effects of medication impacting daily life - Management of medication side effects - Handling common situations during medication use - Mistakes in medication-related decision-making - Recognition of early warning signs of disease	P5- “I had hand tremors, memory loss, trouble remembering things, felt sleepy, had no energy, and didn’t know what to do after taking the medication.” P6- “I’ve been on medication for over a year, but I felt like I didn’t need it anymore. I didn’t want to take it, so I stopped on my own and ended up relapsing.” P9- “Sometimes I suddenly forget to take my medication and only remember at noon or in the evening, and I don’t know if I’m still taking it or not.” P11- “I’ll suddenly get in a really bad mood and feel like I want to die, so I take a few extra pills. Then I regret it and don’t know how to handle it.” P12- “I’ve gained weight on the medication, and it’s hard to lose. My appetite has gone up, I get sleepy, and I’m less productive. I don’t know what to do about it.”	M1- “Patients taking clozapine often experience postural hypotension, like feeling dizzy when they get up in the morning. If they’re at home and this happens, they need to know how to handle it. Some meds also cause constipation or stomach discomfort, and patients should know basic ways to manage these issues. They’re not always able to reach a doctor or someone right away, so having some simple self-care skills for situations like these is essential.” M2- “For patients with recurring symptoms, there are times they might suddenly have negative thoughts and take a lot of medication impulsively, then regret it shortly after. They should know how to respond quickly, like inducing vomiting if needed. It’s really important they learn skills like this to help themselves in these situations.” M5- “Patients should learn to recognize the early warning signs of their illness. If their symptoms aren’t fully controlled by medication and they start noticing signs of a relapse, they should see a doctor as soon as possible, let their family know, and make arrangements to get to the hospital for a follow-up check.”
Numeracy	- Checking medication expiration dates - Scheduling follow-up appointments - Calculating medication duration	P4- “I don’t know the exact expiration date of my medication.” P8- “I can never find the expiration date on the top of the medicine box, and when I do, sometimes I don’t know how to read it.” P9- “After each prescription, I’m not sure how long I should take it before going back to the hospital for a follow-up.” P13- “I don’t know how many days the rest of the medication will last.”	M3- “Patients should know when their next follow-up is and make sure to attend regular check-ups. This way, the doctor can keep track of their condition, monitor any side effects, adjust medications if needed, and provide other helpful recommendations.” M5- “Patients need to keep track of how much medication they have left and when they need to get it refilled. This ensures they don’t run out and can stay on track with their treatment.”

Patients were labelled with ‘P’ (e.g., P1), and psychiatric professionals with ‘M’ (e.g., M1).