Promoting health communication between the community-dwelling well-elderly and pharmacists: the Ask Me 3 program.
OBJECTIVE
To describe readiness to use clear health communication principles with a pharmacist before and after participating in the Ask Me 3 (What is my main problem?, What do I need to do?, Why is it important for me to do this?) program.


METHODS
Modified, separate-sample, pretest-posttest study.


METHODS
Senior centers in Polk County, IA, between March 2006 and February 2007.


METHODS
106 community-dwelling well-elderly.


METHODS
Information on demographic characteristics, regularity of health care and medication use, health literacy level, and a measurement of multidimensional health locus of control were collected from participants, who were then were randomly allocated to one of three assessment subgroups: (1) pretest-posttest, (2) pretest only, and (3) posttest only during each of 12 Ask Me 3 program educational sessions.


METHODS
Readiness to use the seven principles of clear health communication described in the Ask Me 3 program.


RESULTS
Participants were predominantly women and white, had a high school education or higher, had a yearly income of $25,000 or less, and had a mean age of 75.1 years. A majority reported good to excellent health status and visited their physician two or more times per year. All took medications regularly for a medical problem. A minority had inadequate to marginal health literacy. Before the Ask Me 3 program, a majority reported planning to or actively asking their pharmacist (1) for help with questions about their medications (88.2%), (2) to explain how to take their medication (82.6%), (3) to describe the main problem for which their medication is being prescribed (78.6%), and (4) to describe what can happen if they don't take their medication (74.3%). Approximately one-half of participants (55.2%) made a list of health or medication concerns to tell their pharmacist. A minority brought a list of current medications (47.8%) or brought a friend or family member to help when visiting their pharmacist (27.9%). A significantly higher proportion of participants reported planning to or actively bringing a list of current medications when visiting the pharmacist (P < or = 0.025) after participating in the Ask Me 3 program. Increases were not statistically significant for the remaining principles.


CONCLUSIONS
The Ask Me 3 program is a practical tool that creates awareness and reinforces principles of clear health communication. The Ask Me 3 program should be evaluated in diverse pharmacy and health care settings with patients at high risk for poor health communication.
Miller
Michael J
MJ
Department of Pharmacy, Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK 74135, USA. michaelmiller@ouhsc.edu
Abrams
Mary Ann
MA
McClintock
Barbara
B
Cantrell
Matthew A
MA
Dossett
Corey D
CD
McCleeary
Erin M
EM
McGee
Meridith J
MJ
O'Keefe
Kelly J
KJ
Sager
Emily R
ER
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012111:Residence Characteristics