[Improving patient's medication knowledge at hospital discharge]

Area of Science:

• Internal Medicine
• Patient Safety
• Health Communication

Context:

• Hospital discharge is a vulnerable period for care continuity.
• High risk of medication errors and confusion exists post-discharge.
• Effective medication communication strategies are needed.

Purpose:

• To assess the impact of a structured, patient-centered discharge interview on patient medication knowledge.
• To evaluate the utility of individualized treatment cards in reinforcing medication understanding.

Summary:

• A structured discharge interview conducted by the resident physician was implemented in a general internal medicine service.
• This interview was reinforced with a simple, individualized treatment card for each patient.
• The intervention led to a measurable increase in patients' knowledge of their discharge medications.

Impact:

• Enhanced patient knowledge of discharge medications.
• Potential for improved medication adherence and reduced healthcare costs.
• Highlights the importance of effective patient-provider communication during care transitions.