Using postcards to increase patient provided information on medication use

Many elderly persons take medications that their physicians do not know about. The reasons include multiple prescribers, errors in prescriber records, and lack of patient-to-physician communication on medication use. This study assessed the use of mailed cues (postcards) to prompt elderly patients t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inFamily medicine Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 44
Main Authors Penner, M, Dicker, M, Ens, S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.1991
Subjects
Aged
Humans
Office Visits
Patient Compliance
Pharmaceutical Preparations
Postal Service
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Summary:Many elderly persons take medications that their physicians do not know about. The reasons include multiple prescribers, errors in prescriber records, and lack of patient-to-physician communication on medication use. This study assessed the use of mailed cues (postcards) to prompt elderly patients to bring all medications to physician office visits. Four family physician offices were studied; every other current elderly patient received a postcard reminder several days before an appointment. Of those receiving cards, 72% brought in medicines, compared to 8% of the controls.
ISSN:0742-3225