Patients' perceptions of medicines information received at hospital discharge in Norway : a qualitative interview study

• BackgroundInsufficient transfer of medicines information is a common challenge at discharge from hospital. Following discharge, home dwelling patients are expected to manage their medicines themselves and adequate counselling is an important prerequisite for patient empowerment and self-efficacy for medicines management.ObjectiveThe aim was to identify patients' needs for medicines information after discharge from hospital, including the patients' perception and appraisal of the information they received at discharge.SettingThe study enrolled patients discharged from three medical wards at a secondary care hospital in Oslo, Norway.MethodPatients were included at the hospital, at or close to the day of discharge and qualitative, semi-structured interviews were performed during the first 2 weeks after discharge. Eligible patients were receiving medicines treatment on admission and after discharge, were handling the medicines themselves, and discharged to their own home. Data were collected in 2017. Interviews were analysed with thematic analysis inspired by Systematic Text Condensation.Main outcome measurePatients' perceptions of medicines information.ResultsIn total, 12 patients were interviewed. They were discharged in equal numbers from the three wards, representing both sexes and a broad age range. Patients perceive medicines information as a continuum and not limited to specific encounters, like the discharge conversation. They gain information in several ways; by receiving information from health care professionals, through observations, and by seeking it themselves. Some thought they could have been better informed about adverse reactions and how to manage life while being a medicines user. Others felt they did not want or need more information. Patients employ various strategies for coping with their use of medicines, influencing their self-efficacy towards medicine management.ConclusionMedicines information should focus on empowering the patients throughout the hospital stay and not solely at discharge, taking into account the individual patient's needs for information, preferences and prior knowledge.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Samhällsfarmaci och klinisk farmaci (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Social and Clinical Pharmacy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Hospital discharge

Medicines information

Patient empowerment

Self-efficacy

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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