Older patient participation in discharge medication communication: an observational study.

objectiveTo describe the extent to which older patients participate in discharge medication communication, and identify factors that predict patient participation in discharge medication communication.

designObservational study.

settingAn Australian metropolitan tertiary hospital.

participants173 older patients were observed undertaking one medication communication encounter prior to hospital discharge. OUTCOME: Patient participation measured with MEDICODE, a valid and reliable coding framework used to analyse medication communication. MEDICODE provides two measures for patient participation: (1) Preponderance of Initiative and (2) Dialogue Ratio.

resultsThe median for Preponderance of Initiative was 0.7 (IQR=0.5-1.0) and Dialogue Ratio was 0.3 (IQR=0.2-0.4), indicating healthcare professionals took more initiative and medication encounters were mostly monologue rather than a dialogue or dyad. Logistic regression revealed that patients had 30% less chance of having dialogue or dyads with every increase in one medication discussed (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9, p=0.01). Additionally, the higher the patient's risk of a medication-related problem, the more initiative the healthcare professionals took in the conversation (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.1, p=0.04).

conclusionOlder patients are passive during hospital discharge medication conversations. Discussing less medications over several medication conversations spread throughout patient hospitalisation and targeting patients at high risk of medication-related problems may promote more active patient participation, and in turn medication safety outcomes.