Article Figures & Data
Figures
Tables
The Article in Brief
Intervention to Enhance Communication About Newly Prescribed Medications
Derjung M. Tarn , and colleagues
Background This study tests a program to improve doctor-patient communication about newly prescribed medications. In particular, the study looks at 5 elements of communication about medications (discussion of medication name, purpose, directions for use, duration of use, and side effects), as well as patients' ratings of communication about new prescriptions.
What This Study Found A program to improve patient education and counseling about new medications by targeting physician communication appears to be effective. On average, doctors who participate in the program address more than 1 of 5 additional elements of basic information compared with control group physicians; they also have more discussions than control group doctors about all 5 major elements emphasized by the intervention. Furthermore, the intervention results in patients reporting better communication about medication information.
Implications
- When doctors introduce a new medication, it sets the stage for whether and how patients will initiate use of the medication. The authors call for future research testing the clinical impact of the intervention.
Supplemental Appendixes 1-2
Supplemental Appendix 1. Study Intervention Slides; Supplemental Appendix 2. Patient Intervention Handout
Files in this Data Supplement:
- Supplemental data: Appendixes 1-2 - PDF file, 6 pages, 1.6 MB