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Using postcards to increase patient provided information on medication use
1Department of Public Management, College of Professional Studies, University of San Francisco 97117-1080.
Family Medicine
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Mailed postcard reminders significantly increased the likelihood of elderly patients bringing all their medications to physician appointments, improving medication safety.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Patient Safety
- Health Communication
Background:
- Many elderly individuals use medications unknown to their physicians due to multiple prescribers and poor communication.
- Unaccounted medication use poses risks to patient safety and effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of mailed postcard cues in prompting elderly patients to bring all their medications to physician office visits.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted across four family physician offices.
- Elderly patients were alternately assigned to receive a mailed postcard reminder or no reminder before their appointments.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher percentage of patients who received postcard reminders (72%) brought their medications to appointments compared to the control group (8%).
- This intervention demonstrated a substantial improvement in medication disclosure.
Conclusions:
- Mailed postcard reminders are a simple and effective strategy to enhance medication reconciliation in elderly patients.
- Improving medication disclosure can lead to better-informed clinical decisions and enhanced patient safety.