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Take-Wait-Stop: a patient-centered strategy for writing PRN medication instructions
Danielle M McCarthy1, Terry C Davis, Jennifer P King
1a Department of Emergency Medicine, and the Health Literacy and Learning Program, Division of General Internal Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine , Northwestern University , Chicago , Illinois , USA.
Journal of Health Communication
|October 8, 2013
Summary
Patient-centered "Take-Wait-Stop" labels improved medication adherence by reducing dosing errors for as needed (PRN) medications. These improved labels helped prevent patients from exceeding maximum daily doses, enhancing medication safety.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Patient Safety
- Health Literacy
Background:
- Patient misunderstanding of as needed (PRN) medication instructions is a significant cause of dosing errors.
- Effective medication labeling is crucial for safe and appropriate medication use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a preliminary field test of patient-centered PRN medication label instructions.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a "Take-Wait-Stop" label compared to standard labels in preventing dosing errors.
Main Methods:
- A hypothetical dosing experiment was conducted with adult participants.
- Participants were randomized to receive either a patient-centered "Take-Wait-Stop" label or a standard label.
- Dosing errors, including exceeding single-dose or daily limits and incorrect dosing intervals, were measured over 24 hours.
Main Results:
- The "Take-Wait-Stop" label significantly reduced the percentage of participants exceeding the maximum 24-hour dose (14.0% vs. 31.8%, p = .05).
- Participants exposed to the standard label were 2.5 times more likely to exceed the maximum daily dose.
- No significant differences were observed in single-dose errors or dosing intervals between the two label types.
Conclusions:
- Patient-centered "Take-Wait-Stop" labels demonstrate potential in preventing medication dosing errors, particularly exceeding maximum daily doses.
- Further research is warranted to optimize PRN medication labeling for improved patient adherence and safety.
- The findings highlight the importance of clear, patient-centered instructions in medication management.
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