Are medication record cards useful?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the use of patient-held medication record cards and their acceptability to patients and doctors.


METHODS
Prospective 12-month study with data collection at baseline and on three subsequent occasions at four-monthly intervals.


METHODS
187 patients with a mean age of 78.4 years (range, 60-101) were taking a mean of 5.8 medications each (range, 1-18). They lived on Sydney's lower north shore and were able to care for themselves.


METHODS
Availability of card on request, frequency of use, status of recorders and accuracy of records (checked by inspection of medications at home).


RESULTS
Most patients retained their cards, but the proportion who presented it to their doctor fell from 61% to 23% over the 12 months (P < 0.0001), and the proportion with accurately recorded drug regimens ranged from 20% down to 16%. Of the 75 regimens written exclusively by general practitioners in the 12 months, only 19 (25%) were consistent with what the patients were actually taking.


CONCLUSIONS
Medication record cards introduced into the doctor-patient relationship by a "third-party" are unlikely to result in better quality use of medicines.
Atkin
P A
PA
Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
Finnegan
T P
TP
Ogle
S J
SJ
Shenfield
G M
GM
D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors