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Research ArticleOriginal Research

Intervention to Enhance Communication About Newly Prescribed Medications

Derjung M. Tarn, Debora A. Paterniti, Deborah K. Orosz, Chi-Hong Tseng and Neil S. Wenger
The Annals of Family Medicine January 2013, 11 (1) 28-36; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1417
Derjung M. Tarn
1Department of Family Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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  • For correspondence: dtarn@mednet.ucla.edu
Debora A. Paterniti
2Center for Healthcare Policy and Research and Department of Sociology, University of California-Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California
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Deborah K. Orosz
3Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Chi-Hong Tseng
4Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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Neil S. Wenger
4Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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Abstract

PURPOSE Physicians prescribing new medications often do not convey important medication-related information. This study tests an intervention to improve physician-patient communication about newly prescribed medications.

METHODS We conducted a controlled clinical trial of patients in 3 primary care practices, combining data from patient surveys with audio-recorded physician-patient interactions. The intervention consisted of a 1-hour physician-targeted interactive educational session encouraging communication about 5 basic elements regarding a new prescription and a patient information handout listing the 5 basic elements. Main outcome measures were the Medication Communication Index (MCI), a 5-point index assessed by qualitative analysis of audio-recorded interactions (giving points for discussion of medication name, purpose, directions for use, duration of use, and side effects), and patient ratings of physician communication about new prescriptions.

RESULTS Twenty-seven physicians prescribed 113 new medications to 82 of 256 patients. The mean MCI for medications prescribed by physicians in the intervention group was 3.95 (SD = 1.02), significantly higher than that for medications prescribed by control group physicians (2.86, SD = 1.23, P <.001). This effect held regardless of medication type (chronic vs nonchronic medication). Counseling about 3 of the 5 MCI components was significantly higher for medications prescribed by physicians in the intervention group, as were patients’ ratings of new medication information transfer (P = .02). Independent of intervention or control groups, higher MCI scores were associated with better patient ratings about information about new prescriptions (P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS A physician-targeted educational session improved the content of and enhanced patient ratings of physician communication about new medication prescriptions. Further work is required to assess whether improved communication stimulated by the intervention translates into better clinical outcomes.

Key words
  • physician-patient relations
  • Prescriptions
  • Communication
  • intervention studies
  • Received for publication November 28, 2011.
  • Revision received March 25, 2012.
  • Accepted for publication April 10, 2012.
  • © 2013 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.
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The Annals of Family Medicine: 11 (1)
The Annals of Family Medicine: 11 (1)
Vol. 11, Issue 1
January/February 2013
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Intervention to Enhance Communication About Newly Prescribed Medications
Derjung M. Tarn, Debora A. Paterniti, Deborah K. Orosz, Chi-Hong Tseng, Neil S. Wenger
The Annals of Family Medicine Jan 2013, 11 (1) 28-36; DOI: 10.1370/afm.1417

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Intervention to Enhance Communication About Newly Prescribed Medications
Derjung M. Tarn, Debora A. Paterniti, Deborah K. Orosz, Chi-Hong Tseng, Neil S. Wenger
The Annals of Family Medicine Jan 2013, 11 (1) 28-36; DOI: 10.1370/afm.1417
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