Participation in medication safety of older-adult patients with chronic disease during the transition from hospital to home: a descriptive qualitative study

Abstract

Abstract Background Medication safety issues occur frequently among older-adult patients with chronic diseases during the transition from the hospital to their homes. Patient participation in medication safety has been found to be an effective measure for improving patient safety. However, few studies have been conducted on the safety of older-adult patients with chronic disease during the hospital to family transition period. This study aimed to understand the experiences and perceptions of such patients regarding participation in medication safety during the hospital to family transition period and to explore the actual situation and obstacles during this period in the Chinese context. Methods A descriptive, qualitative research approach was adopted using purposive sampling. Eighteen patients with chronic disease (aged 61–84 years) participated, all of whom were in the period of transition from hospital to home. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews and analysed using directed qualitative content analysis. Results Four themes and 12 sub-themes were identified in this study. The four themes were participation in medication decision-making, participation in medication self-management, participation support, and barriers to patient participation. Conclusions Patient participation is important in ensuring medication safety during the hospital to family transition period. This study highlights that older-adult patients’ participation in medication safety includes three aspects: participation in medication decision-making, participation in medication self-management, and participation support. Health literacy, medical communication, and family care support are the key factors affecting patient participation in medication safety. Effective intervention strategies for this patient group during the transition period would target improving patients’ cognition, health literacy, doctor-prescription communication, and family care support to encourage patients to be more actively involved in the process of drug treatment.

Keywords

• Older adults
• Medication safety
• Patient participation
• Chronic diseases