Patient perceptions regarding electronic prescriptions: is the geriatric patient ready?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the extent to which electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) alters communication about medication use between geriatric patients and their clinicians, as well as geriatric patients' perceptions regarding e-prescribing.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Thirty-five physician practices in six states using e-prescribing.


METHODS
Convenience sample of patients (n=244) aged 65 and older.


METHODS
Patient perceptions regarding discussions with their doctors regarding medication costs, adherence, and potential side effects, as well as expectations about and satisfaction with e-prescribing collected on a voluntary survey.


RESULTS
Of patients at e-prescribing practices, 53% reported ever receiving e-prescriptions. Patients who reported having e-prescriptions were more likely to feel favorably toward the electronic method, whereas most of those who reported never receiving e-prescriptions preferred paper prescriptions. Patients reporting use of e-prescriptions were somewhat more likely to have adherence discussions often or most of the time than patients who had not used e-prescriptions. Regardless of e-prescribing experience, few patients reported that they would tell their physicians if they did not want a drug or did not plan to pick up the drug from the pharmacy.


CONCLUSIONS
E-prescribing technology solutions may provide opportunities for earlier and enhanced communication between geriatric patients and their clinicians; geriatric patients may require more education to appreciate the value of e-prescribing.
Department of Community Health, Institute for Community Health Promotion, Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. Kate_Lapane@Brown.edu
Kate L
KL
Lapane
Catherine
C
Dubé
Karen L
KL
Schneider
Brian J
BJ
Quilliam
D000368:Aged; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050316:Medical Order Entry Systems; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations