Michael S. Wolf|Laura M. Curtis|Katherine Waite|Stacy Cooper Bailey|Laurie Hedlund|Terry C. Davis|William H. Shrank|Ruth M. Parker|Alastair J.J. Wood
Helping Patients Simplify and Safely Use Complex Prescription Regimens
Northwestern University
considerable variability manner prescriptions written physicians transcribed pharmacists resulting patient misunderstanding label instructions universal medication schedule recently proposed standardizing prescribing practices 4 daily time intervals thereby helping patients simplify safely use complex prescription regimens investigated whether patients consolidate medications whether evidence unnecessary regimen complexity would support standardizationstructured interviews conducted 464 adults age range 5574 years receiving care either academic general medicine practice 1 3 federally qualified health centers chicago illinois participants given hypothetical 7drug medication regimen asked demonstrate would take medications 24hour period regimen could consolidated 4 dosing episodes per day primary outcome number times per day individuals would take medication root causes patients complicating regimen 4 times day examinedparticipants average identified 6 times sd 18 times range 314 times 24 hours take 7 drugs onethird participants 293 dosed medications 7 times per day 149 organized regimen 4 fewer times day multivariable analysis low literacy independent predictor times per day dosing regimen 067 95 confidence interval 012122 p 02 instructions 2 drugs identical yet 310 participants take medications time another set drugs similar instructions primary exception 1 drug added instruction take food water half participants 495 took medications different times medications variable expressions dose frequency eg every 12 hours vs twice daily 790 participants consolidate medicationsmany patients especially limited literacy consolidate prescription regimens efficient manner could impede adherence standardized instructions proposed universal medication schedule taskcentered strategies could potentially help patients routinely organize take medication regimens