Loading...
Patients' knowledge of new medicines after discharge from hospital: What are the effects of hospital-based discharge counseling and community-based medicines use reviews (MURs)?
Elson, Rachel Blenkinsopp, Alison
Elson, Rachel
Blenkinsopp, Alison
Publication Date
2017-05
End of Embargo
Supervisor
Rights
Peer-Reviewed
Yes
Open Access status
openAccess
Accepted for publication
Institution
Department
Awarded
Embargo end date
Collections
Additional title
Abstract
Background
Interventions to reduce medicines discontinuity at transitions during and reinforced after discharge are effective. However, few studies have linked hospital-based counseling with onward referral for community pharmacy-based follow-up to support patients' medicines use.
Objective
To determine the effects of targeted hospital pharmacist counseling on discharge or targeted community pharmacy medicines reviews post-discharge on patients' knowledge of newly started medication.
Methods
The study was a controlled trial of targeted medicines discharge counseling provided by hospital pharmacists or follow-up post-discharge medicines review provided by community pharmacists compared with usual care (nurse counseling). Outcomes measured using a structured telephone survey conducted at two and four weeks after patients were discharged from hospital.
Results
Patients who received hospital pharmacist counseling were significantly more likely to report being told the purpose of their new medicine and how to take it versus those receiving usual care. Fewer than half of the patients who were allocated to receive a community pharmacy medicines review received one.
Conclusions
Patient knowledge of medicines newly prescribed in the hospital was increased by targeted counseling of hospital pharmacists. The findings suggest the need to improve the consistency of the information covered when providing counseling, perhaps by the implementation of a counseling checklist for use by all disciplines of staff involved in patient counseling. The potential of community pharmacy follow-up medicines review is currently undermined by several barriers to uptake.
Version
Accepted manuscript
Citation
Elson R, Cook H and Blenkinsopp A (2017) Patients' knowledge of new medicines after discharge from hospital: What are the effects of hospital-based discharge counseling and community-based medicines use reviews (MURs)? Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. 13(3): 628-633.
Link to publisher’s version
Link to published version
Link to Version of Record
Type
Article