Evaluation of a patient education program for solid organ transplant patients

Medication counselling of transplant patients plays a major role in the outcome of the transplant. The medication counselling program at Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre for Solid Organ Transplant (SOT) patients consists of verbal counselling by a pharmacist, provision of medication teaching sheets, and patient participation in the self-medication program. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication counselling program for SOT patients and to develop a series of tests to serve as a teaching tool. Solid organ transplant patients who were English speaking and tolerated oral medications were enrolled in the study. A prospective evaluation of the medication counselling program was done through a series of identical tests. Percent scores were calculated for each test, and pre-test scores (scores prior to counselling) were compared to post-test scores (scores after counselling). Twenty-eight SOT patients participated in the study. Patients scored an average of 25% on the pre-test prior to the counselling session and 66% on the post-test at the time of discharge. When scores on specific questions were compared, patients did well on drug identification, dosage and indications, but poorly on questions regarding side effects. Patient counselling improves medication knowledge in SOT patients as indicated by an increase in test scores. The combination of repeated counselling sessions and the participation in the self-medication program reinforces medication knowledge and maximizes retention of knowledge.