title: Medication coaching program for patients with minor stroke or TIA: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients who are hospitalized with a first or recurrent stroke often are discharged with new medications or adjustment to the doses of pre-admission medications, which can be confusing and pose safety issues if misunderstood. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of medication coaching via telephone after discharge in patients with stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-arm pilot study of a medication coaching program with 30 patients (20 intervention, 10 control). Consecutive patients admitted with stroke or TIA with at least 2 medications changed between admission and discharge were included. The medication coach contacted intervention arm patients post-discharge via phone call to discuss risk factors, review medications and triage patients' questions to a stroke nurse and/or pharmacist. Intervention and control participants were contacted at 3 months for outcomes. The main outcomes were feasibility (appropriateness of script, ability to reach participants, and provide requested information) and participant evaluation of medication coaching.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median lengths of the coaching and follow-up calls with requested answers to these questions were 27 minutes and 12 minutes, respectively, and participant evaluations of the coaching were positive. The intervention participants were more likely to have seen their primary care provider than were control participants by 3 months post discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This medication coaching study executed early after discharge demonstrated feasibility of coaching and educating stroke patients with a trained coach. Results from our small pilot showed a possible trend towards improved appointment-keeping with primary care providers in those who received coaching.
authors: Department of Neurology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors: Elizabeth G
authors: EG
authors: Sides
authors: Louise O
authors: LO
authors: Zimmer
authors: Leslie
authors: L
authors: Wilson
authors: Wenqin
authors: W
authors: Pan
authors: Daiwai M
authors: DM
authors: Olson
authors: Eric D
authors: ED
authors: Peterson
authors: Cheryl
authors: C
authors: Bushnell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017216:Telemedicine