Elderly patients and their medication: a post-discharge follow-up study.
Fifty-six elderly patients (age range 65-98 years) discharged from a geriatric unit were visited at home on or after the 5th post-discharge day (median day 8) and their medication assessed. By the day of the visit, 15 of the 56 had not had a new prescription issued (27%) and 27 patients (48%) had old prescribed medication at home. Forty-one new scripts, issued by general practitioners, should have contained 128 medications if the general practitioners wished to continue unchanged the medication given on hospital discharge. Fourteen drugs (11%) had been added and 17 drugs (13%) omitted. The number of prescriptions issued unchanged was 26/41 (63%). Inaccurately labelled containers and/or changed drug names were found in 28%. Contrary to hospital advice, 47% of medications were issued in childproof containers. Poor communication between hospital and general practitioners is only part of the problem. Methods to expedite the delivery of new prescriptions should be developed.
Burns
J M
JM
Lightburn Hospital, Glasgow.
Sneddon
I
I
Lovell
M
M
McLean
A
A
Martin
B J
BJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004349:Drug Packaging; D004358:Drug Therapy; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services
D016568:Drugs, Generic