Older patient and family discharge medication communication: A mixed-methods study

Involvement in medication safety behaviors among older people with chronic diseases: systematic review of intervention studies

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to systematically evaluate interventions and effects that promote involvement in medication safety among older people with chronic diseases and to provide new ideas and references for developing standardized and effective intervention strategies to improve patient involvement in medication safety.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search across twelve databases was conducted using both computerized and manual methods. The search was limited to studies designated as randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies and was conducted from the time of each database's inception until September 2023. Two researchers independently carried out qualitative analyses, which included screening the literature, extracting the data, and assessing the quality of the selected studies.

RESULTS

This study included five studies involving a total of 388 participants, with interventions aimed at enhancing patient involvement in medication safety, including interactive health education, motivational interviewing, and medication reconciliation. However, direct evidence confirming the positive impact of these interventions in promoting medication safety behaviors among older people with chronic diseases is still lacking.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient involvement in medication safety behaviors is essential for promoting healthy aging. Medication education, motivational interviewing, and medication reconciliation may improve the willingness and ability of older people to participate. However, limitations in the methodological quality of current studies prevent drawing definitive conclusions, highlighting the urgent need for more high-quality research.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO number CRD42023494924.

Experiences and Perceptions of Medication Management Communication During Transitions of Care for Residents in Aged Care Homes and Their Caregivers: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis

AIM

To explore the experiences and perceptions of communication about managing medication across transitions of care for residents living in aged care homes and their family caregivers.

BACKGROUND

Effective medication communication across transitions of care involves exchanging information, resident, and family caregiver's participation in decision-making, and shared responsibility.

DESIGN

A qualitative meta-synthesis.

METHOD

This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the accompanying 27-item checklist. A systematic search of seven electronic databases (Embase, PsycINFO, Medline Ovid, Scopus, CINAHL, EmCare and Web of Science) was performed from inception to December 2023. Studies eligible for inclusion in this review were required to be published in peer-reviewed English journals and focus on medication communication among healthcare providers, residents and family caregivers during transitions of care for aged care residents. The JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was employed for the critical appraisal of the studies, and the COREQ checklist was used to evaluate their quality.

RESULTS

Of the 2610 studies identified, 12 met the inclusion criteria. No study was excluded based on quality. Two main themes were generated: (1) Medication information exchange involving residents and families, and (2) resident and family factors influencing medication communication engagement. The findings revealed a lack of supportive structure for effective communication and collaboration among residents, family caregivers and healthcare providers during transitions of care, marked by one-way interactions and limited evidence of shared decision-making or family caregiver engagement in medication management communication, despite varying individual needs and preferences.

CONCLUSIONS

Communication about medication management during transitions of care focused on sharing details rather than active engagement. Residents and their family caregivers have individual needs and perspectives regarding communication about medication management, which are not well addressed by healthcare providers during transitions of care. Healthcare providers' communication remains limited, and family caregivers are underutilised.

Enhancing patient participation in discharge medication communication: a feasibility pilot trial

OBJECTIVES

To pilot test a co-designed intervention that enhances patient participation in hospital discharge medication communication.

DESIGN

Pilot randomised controlled trial.

SETTING

One tertiary hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients who were ≥45 years of age; ≥1 chronic illness and ≥1 regularly prescribed medication that they manage at home were recruited between October 2022 and May 2023. Healthcare professionals on participating units completed surveys.

INTERVENTION

The co-designed intervention included three websites: a medication search engine, a medication question builder and tools to facilitate medication management at home. Inpatient posters contained QR codes to provide access to these websites.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcomes were the feasibility of study processes and intervention acceptability. Feasibility of study processes was measured in terms of recruitment, fidelity, retention, missing data and contamination. Patients in the intervention group and healthcare professionals on the wards self-reported intervention acceptability. Secondary outcomes were medication understanding, use, self-efficacy and healthcare utilisation.

RESULTS

60 patients were recruited and randomised; half in each study group. The intervention was largely delivered as intended, and 99.7% of data collected was complete. In total, 16/59 (27.1%) patients were lost to follow-up 28 days after hospital discharge, and 3 patients in the usual care group reported that they saw the intervention poster prior to hospital discharge. 21 of 24 intervention group patients (87.5%) deemed the intervention acceptable, while half of the healthcare professionals (n=5, 50%) thought it was acceptable.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that in a future definitive trial, intervention fidelity would be high with little missing data, and patients would likely find the intervention acceptable. Thus, a larger trial may be warranted, as the intervention is implementable and approved by patients. However, additional strategies to increase recruitment and retention of eligible participants are needed. Healthcare professionals may require more preparation for the intervention to enhance their perceptions of intervention acceptability.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12622001028796.

Patient and family perceptions of a discharge bedside board

Objective

To explore patient and family perspectives of a discharge bedside board for supporting engagement in patient care and discharge planning to inform tool revision.

Methods

This qualitative descriptive study included 45 semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of English-speaking patients (n = 44; mean age 58.5 years) and their family members (n = 5) across seven adult inpatient units at a tertiary acute care hospital in mid-western Canada. Thematic (interviews), content (board, organization procedure document), and framework-guided integrated (all data) analyses were performed.

Results

Four themes were generated from interview data: understanding the board, included essential information to guide care, balancing information on the board, and maintaining a sense of connection. Despite application inconsistencies, documented standard procedures aligned with recommended board (re)orientation, timely patient-friendly content, attention to privacy, and patient-provider engagement strategies.

Conclusion

Findings indicate the tool supported consultation and some involvement level engagement in patient care and discharge. Board information was usually valued, however, perceived procedural gaps in tool education, privacy, and the quality of tool-related communication offer opportunities to strengthen patients' and families' tool experience.

Innovation

Novel application of a continuum engagement framework in the exploration of multiple data sources generated significant insights to guide tool revision.

Associations between potentially inappropriate prescribing and increased number of medications with postdischarge health outcomes among geriatric rehabilitation inpatients: RESORT study

AIMS

Older adults are vulnerable to medication-related harm mainly due to high use of medications and inappropriate prescribing. This study aimed to investigate the associations between inappropriate prescribing and number of medications identified at discharge from geriatric rehabilitation with subsequent postdischarge health outcomes.

METHOD

RESORT (REStORing health of acutely unwell adulTs) is an observational, longitudinal cohort study of geriatric rehabilitation inpatients. Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) were measured at acute admission, and at admission and discharge from geriatric rehabilitation, using Version 2 of the STOPP/START criteria.

RESULTS

In total, 1890 (mean age 82.6 ± 8.1 years, 56.3% female) were included. The use of at least 1 PIM or PPO at geriatric rehabilitation discharge was not associated with 30-day and 90-day readmission and 3-month and 12-month mortality. Central nervous system/psychotropics and fall risk PIMs were significantly associated with 30-day hospital readmission (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-2.15), and cardiovascular PPOs with 12-month mortality (AOR 1.34; 95% CI 1.00-1.78). Increased number of discharge medications was significantly associated with 30-day (AOR 1.03; 95% CI 1.00-1.07) and 90-day (AOR 1.06; 95% CI 1.03-1.09) hospital readmissions. The use and number of PPOs (including vaccine omissions) were associated with reduced independence in instrumental activities of daily living scores at 90-days after geriatric rehabilitation discharge.

CONCLUSION

The number of discharge medications, central nervous system/psychotropics and fall risk PIMs were significantly associated with readmission, and cardiovascular PPOs with mortality. Interventions are needed to improve appropriate prescribing in geriatric rehabilitation patients to prevent hospital readmission and mortality.

Understanding medication safety involving patient transfer from intensive care to hospital ward: a qualitative sociotechnical factor study

OBJECTIVE

To understand the sociotechnical factors affecting medication safety when intensive care patients are transferred to a hospital ward. Consideration of these medication safety factors would provide a theoretical basis, on which future interventions can be developed and evaluated to improve patient care.

DESIGN

Qualitative study using semistructured interviews of intensive care and hospital ward-based healthcare professionals. Transcripts were anonymised prior to thematic analysis using the London Protocol and Systems Engineering in Patient Safety V.3.0 model frameworks.

SETTING

Four north of England National Health Service hospitals. All hospitals used electronic prescribing in intensive care and hospital ward settings.

PARTICIPANTS

Intensive care and hospital ward healthcare professionals (intensive care medical staff, advanced practitioners, pharmacists and outreach team members; ward-based medical staff and clinical pharmacists).

RESULTS

Twenty-two healthcare professionals were interviewed. We identified 13 factors within five broad themes, describing the interactions that most strongly influenced the performance of the intensive care to hospital ward system interface. The themes were: Complexity of process performance and interactions; Time pressures and considerations; Communication processes and challenges; Technology and systems and Beliefs about consequences for the patient and organisation.

CONCLUSIONS

The complexity of the interactions on the system performance and time dependency was clear. We make several recommendations for policy change and further research based on improving: availability of hospital-wide integrated and functional electronic prescribing systems, patient flow systems, sufficient multiprofessional critical care staffing, knowledge and skills of staff, team performance, communication and collaboration and patient and family engagement.

Older patient participation in discharge medication communication: an observational study

OBJECTIVE

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

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING

An Australian metropolitan tertiary hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

173 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.

RESULTS

The 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).

CONCLUSION

Older 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.

Analysis of the nature and contributory factors of medication safety incidents following hospital discharge using National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) data from England and Wales: a multi-method study

Introduction

Improving medication safety during transition of care is an international healthcare priority. While existing research reveals that medication-related incidents and associated harms may be common following hospital discharge, there is limited information about their nature and contributory factors at a national level which is crucial to inform improvement strategy.

Aim

To characterise the nature and contributory factors of medication-related incidents during transition of care from secondary to primary care.

Method

A retrospective analysis of medication incidents reported to the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) in England and Wales between 2015 and 2019. Descriptive analysis identified the frequency and nature of incidents and content analysis of free text data, coded using the Patient Safety Research Group (PISA) classification, examined the contributory factors and outcome of incidents.

Results

A total of 1121 medication-related incident reports underwent analysis. Most incidents involved patients over 65 years old (55%, n = 626/1121). More than one in 10 (12.6%, n = 142/1121) incidents were associated with patient harm. The drug monitoring (17%) and administration stages (15%) were associated with a higher proportion of harmful incidents than any other drug use stages. Common medication classes associated with incidents were the cardiovascular (n = 734) and central nervous (n = 273) systems. Among 408 incidents reporting 467 contributory factors, the most common contributory factors were organisation factors (82%, n = 383/467) (mostly related to continuity of care which is the delivery of a seamless service through integration, co-ordination, and the sharing of information between different providers), followed by staff factors (16%, n = 75/467).

Conclusion

Medication incidents after hospital discharge are associated with patient harm. Several targets were identified for future research that could support the development of remedial interventions, including commonly observed medication classes, older adults, increase patient engagement, and improve shared care agreement for medication monitoring post hospital discharge.

Plain language summary

Study using reports about unsafe or substandard care mainly written by healthcare professionals to better understand the type and causes of medication safety problems following hospital discharge Why was the study done? The safe use of medicines after hospital discharge has been highlighted by the World Health Organization as an important target for improvement in patient care. Yet, the type of medication problems which occur, and their causes are poorly understood across England and Wales, which may hamper our efforts to create ways to improve care as they may not be based on what we know causes the problem in the first place.What did the researchers do? The research team studied medication safety incident reports collected across England and Wales over a 5-year period to better understand what kind of medication safety problems occur after hospital discharge and why they happen, so we can find ways to prevent them from happening in future.What did the researchers find? The total number of incident reports studied was 1121, and the majority (n = 626) involved older people. More than one in ten of these incidents caused harm to patients. The most common medications involved in the medication safety incidents were for cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, conditions such as mental illness, pain and neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy) and other illnesses such as diabetes. The most common causes of these incidents were because of the organisation rules, such as information sharing, followed by staff issues, such as not following protocols, individual mistakes and not having the right skills for the task.What do the findings mean? This study has identified some important targets that can be a focus of future efforts to improve the safe use of medicines after hospital discharge. These include concentrating attention on medication for the cardiovascular and central nervous systems (e.g., via incorporating them in prescribing safety indicators and pharmaceutical prioritisation tools), staff skill mix (e.g., embedding clinical pharmacist roles at key parts of the care pathway where greatest risk is suspected), and implementation of electronic interventions to improve timely communication of medication and other information between healthcare providers.

Towards patient-centred communication in the management of older patients' medications across transitions of care: A focused ethnographic study

BACKGROUND

Communication about managing medications during transitions of care can be a challenging process for older patients since they often have complex medication regimens. Previous studies highlighted that links between communication breakdowns and medication incidents in older patients occur mainly at discharge or in the post-discharge period. Little attention has been paid to exploring communication strategies facilitating patient-centred medication communication at transitions of care from a discourse-analytic perspective.

OBJECTIVES

To explore, through a discursive lens, strategies that enable patient-centred medication communication at transitions of care.

DESIGN

A focused ethnographic study was employed for this study. The study was reported according to the COREQ checklist.

METHODS

Interviews, observations and focus groups were analysed utilising Critical Discourse Analysis and the Medication Communication Model following thematic analysis. Data collection was undertaken in eight wards across two metropolitan hospitals in Australia.

RESULTS

Patient preferences and beliefs about medications were identified as important characteristics of patient-centred communication. Strategies included empathetic talk prioritising patients' medication needs and preferences for medications; informative talk clarifying patients' concerns; and encouraging talk for enhancing shared decision-making with older patients. Challenges relating to the use of these strategies included patients' hearing, speech or cognitive impairments, language barriers and absence of interpreters or family members during care transitions.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

To enhance medication communication, nurses, doctors and pharmacists should incorporate older patients' preferences, previous experiences and beliefs, and consider the challenges faced by patients across transitions. Strategies encouraging patients' contribution to decision-making processes are crucial to patient-centeredness in medication communication. Nurses need to engage in informative talk more frequently when administering the medications to ensure older patients' understanding of medications prescribed or altered in hospital settings.

Health professionals' perspectives of patients' and family members' needs in emergency departments and patient pathway improvement: a qualitative study in Denmark

OBJECTIVE

Besides working in a fast-paced environment, healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the emergency department (ED) are required to promptly respond to patients' needs and simultaneously achieve their organisational goals, which can be challenging. This study investigates how HCPs perceive and support the needs of patients discharged after a brief ED stay, as well as their family members.

DESIGN

The study used focus group discussions. The text material was analysed using systematic text condensation.

SETTING

Data were collected from two large EDs in Denmark.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixteen HCPs were sampled purposively to participate in three focus group discussions.

RESULTS

Three main themes were condensed: (1) creating a trustful and reassuring relationship; (2) responding to family members: a bother or a benefit; and (3) working as an interdisciplinary team. The study indicated the need for increased interdisciplinary collaboration to reduce discrepancies in information dissemination, to meet patient and family needs and to deliver a holistic approach. A technical solution was suggested to facilitate collaborative teamwork.

CONCLUSION

The study highlighted an existing gap between emergency HCPs' perceptions of patients' and family members' needs and the provision of the current patient and family support. Suggestions for future interventions include focusing on interdisciplinary teamwork, facilitated by a technical solution to support a person-centred and family-centred informative approach.

Older patients' engagement in hospital medication safety behaviours

BACKGROUND

Increasing age is associated with more medication errors in hospitalised patients. Patient engagement is a strategy to reduce medication harm.

AIMS

To measure older patients' preferences for and reported medication safety behaviours, identify the relationship between preferred and reported medication safety behaviours and identify whether perceptions of medication safety behaviours differ between groups of young-old, middle-old and old-old patients (65-74 years, 75-84 years, and ≥ 85 years).

METHODS

A survey, which included the Inpatient Medication Safety Involvement Scale (IMSIS) was administered to 200 older patients from medical settings, at one hospital. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman's rho and the Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS

Patients reported a desire to ask questions (59.5% n = 119) and check with healthcare professionals if they perceived that a medication was wrong (86.5% n = 173) or forgotten (87.0% n = 174). Patients did not have particular preferences, which differed from their experiences in terms of viewing the medication administration chart and self-administering medications. Preferred and reported behaviours correlated positively (r = 0.46-0.58, n = 200, p ≤ 0.001). Young-old patients preferred notifying healthcare professionals of perceived medication errors more than middle-old and old-old patients (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Older patients may prefer verbal medication safety behaviours like asking questions and notifying healthcare professionals of medication errors, over viewing medication charts and self-administering medications. The young-old group wanted to identify perceived medication errors more than other age groups. Older patients are willing to engage in medication safety behaviours, and healthcare professionals and organisations need to embrace this engagement in an effort to reduce medication harm.

Personalized and Self-Management: Systematic Search and Evaluation Quality Factors and User Preference of Drug Reference Apps in Taiwan

Background: Drug reference apps promote self-management and improve the efficiency and quality of work for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and patients. This study aimed to describe a systematic and stepwise process to identify drug reference apps in Taiwan, assess the quality of these apps, and analyze the influential factors for user ratings. Methods: A two-step algorithm (KESS) consisting of keyword growing and systematic search was proposed. Seven independent reviewers were trained to evaluate these apps using Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). A logistic regression model was fitted and average marginal effects (AME) were calculated to identify the effects of factors for higher user ratings. Results: A total of 23 drug reference apps in Taiwan were identified and analyzed. Generally, these drug reference apps were evaluated as acceptable quality with an average MARS score of 3.23. Higher user engagement, more functionality, better aesthetics, and more information associated with higher user ratings. Navigation is the most influential factor on higher user ratings (AME: 13.15%) followed by performance (AME: 11.03%), visual appeal (AME: 10.87%), credibility (AME: 10.67%), and quantity of information (AME: 10.42%). Conclusions: User experience and information clearly affect user ratings of drug reference apps. Five key factors should be considered when designing drug reference apps.