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Pharmacist, Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Researcher, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Netherlands
Researcher, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam; Pharmacist, Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital
Hospital Pharmacist, Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital
Pulmonologist, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital
Hospital Pharmacist, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Centre Utrecht; Professor, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Science, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University
Hospital Pharmacist, Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Researcher, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University
Reprints: Dr. van den Bemt, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, PO Box 80082, 3508 TB, Utrecht, Netherlands, fax 31-302539166, p.vandenbemt{at}uu.nl
BACKGROUND: Hospital admissions are a risk factor for the occurrence of unintended medication discrepancies between drugs used before admission and after discharge. To diminish such discrepancies and improve quality of care, medication reconciliation has been developed. The exact contribution of patient counseling to the medication reconciliation process is unknown, especially not when compared with community pharmacy medication records, which are considered reliable in the Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of medication reconciliation with and without patient counseling among patients at the time of hospital discharge on the number and type of interventions aimed at preventing drug-related problems.
METHODS: A prospective observational study in a general teaching hospital was performed. Patients discharged from the pulmonology department were included. A pharmacy team assessed the interventions with and without patient counseling on discharge medications for each patient.
RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-two patients were included. Medication reconciliation without patient counseling was responsible for at least one intervention in 87% of patients (mean 2.7 interventions/patient). After patient counseling, at least one intervention (mean 5.3 interventions/patient) was performed in 97% of patients. After patient counseling, discharge prescriptions were frequently adjusted due to discrepancies in use or need of drug therapy. Most interventions led to the start of medication due to omission and dose changes due to incorrect dosages being prescribed. Patients also addressed their problems/concerns with use of the drug, which were discussed before discharge.
CONCLUSIONS: Significantly more interventions were identified after patient counseling. Therefore, patient information is essential in medication reconciliation.
Key Words: drug-related problems, medication reconciliation, patient counseling
Published Online, June 2, 2009. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1L597
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  K. J Velthove, H. G. Leufkens, R. C Schweizer, W. W van Solinge, and P. C Souverein Medication Changes Prior to Hospitalization for Obstructive Lung Disease: A Case-Crossover Study Ann. Pharmacother., February 1, 2010; 44(2): 267 - 273. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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