Emergency department medication history taking: current inefficiency and potential for a self-administered form.
J Emerg Med
; 45(1): 105-10, 2013 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23602792
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Emergency Departments (EDs) struggle with obtaining accurate medication information from patients.OBJECTIVE:
Our aim was to estimate the proportion of urban ED patients who are able to complete a self-administered medication form and record patient observations of the medication information process.METHODS:
In this cross-sectional study, we consecutively sampled ED patients during various shifts between 8 AM and 10 PM. We created a one-page medication questionnaire that included a list of 49 common medications, categorized by general indications. We asked patients to circle any medications they took and write the names of those not on the form in a dedicated area on the bottom of the page. After their visit, we asked patients to recall which providers had asked them about their medications.RESULTS:
Research staff approached 354 patients; median age was 45 years (interquartile range 29-53 years). Two hundred and forty-nine (70%) completed a form, 61 (17%) were too ill, 19 (5%) could not read it, and 25 (7%) refused to participate. Excluding refusals, 249 of 329 (76%; 95% confidence interval 70-80%) were able to complete the form. Of 209 patients recalling their visit, 180 (86%) indicated that multiple providers took a history, including 103 in which every provider did so, and 9 (4%) indicated that no provider took a medication history.CONCLUSIONS:
The process of ED medication information transfer often involves redundant efforts by the health care team. More than 70% of patients presenting for Emergency care were able to complete a self-administered medication information form.
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Admissão do Paciente
/
Reconciliação de Medicamentos
/
Autorrelato
/
Erros de Medicação
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article