Patients' recall of interaction with a pharmacist during hospital admission

CSHP 2015 objective 1.5 proposes that at least 50% of recently hospitalized patients or their caregivers will recall speaking with a pharmacist while in the hospital.

To determine the baseline prevalence of patients' recall of interaction with a pharmacist during their hospital admission and their level of satisfaction with these encounters, following a major reorganization of health authorities in New Brunswick.

Former inpatients from 27 units in 9 hospitals in the Horizon Health Network were randomly selected to complete a telephone survey within 5 to 7 months after discharge from hospital. Patients' responses were validated against pharmacists' documentation in the patients' health records.

From June 2010 to July 2011, a total of 1028 former inpatients were screened, of whom 399 completed the telephone survey. More than half of the respondents were women (225 [56.4%]), and the mean age was 67 years. Overall, 184 patients (46.1%) recalled speaking with a pharmacist during their recent admission. Of these, 164 (89.1%) were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with these interactions. In addition, 332 respondents (83.2%) indicated that if the hospital offered the opportunity to talk with a pharmacist who could help answer their questions about medications, they would take advantage of this service. The electronic hospital records of 181 patients (from 15 units at 3 sites) were analyzed to seek evidence of pharmacists' interventions or encounters (e.g., medication history, consultation). Pharmacist documentation was found in the health records of 166 (91.7%) of all patients in this sample.

Almost half of former inpatients recalled speaking with a pharmacist during a recent hospital admission. The majority of patients were satisfied with these interactions and would welcome future services from hospital pharmacists.