Self-medication in acute surgical wards

Area of Science:

• Surgical Nursing
• Pharmacology
• Patient Care Management

Background:

• Traditional surgical ward practices do not typically include patient self-medication of oral drugs.
• Patient desire for self-management of medications is often unmet in inpatient settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a patient self-medication system for oral drugs on surgical wards.
• To assess the impact of patient self-administration on medication timing, home drug utilization, and discharge efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a phased self-medication program for selected patients on surgical wards.
• Gaining staff confidence through a staged introduction of the self-medication system.

Main Results:

• The system facilitates better utilization of patient-supplied home medications.
• Allows for more appropriate timing of medication administration during hospitalization.
• Contributes to faster discharge procedures due to patient familiarity and existing drug supplies.

Conclusions:

• Patient self-medication of oral drugs is a feasible and beneficial practice on surgical wards.
• The system enhances patient autonomy, optimizes medication management, and improves hospital workflow.