title: Emergency department medication history taking: current inefficiency and potential for a self-administered form.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emergency Departments (EDs) struggle with obtaining accurate medication information from patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to estimate the proportion of urban ED patients who are able to complete a self-administered medication form and record patient observations of the medication information process.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, we consecutively sampled ED patients during various shifts between 8 AM and 10 PM. We created a one-page medication questionnaire that included a list of 49 common medications, categorized by general indications. We asked patients to circle any medications they took and write the names of those not on the form in a dedicated area on the bottom of the page. After their visit, we asked patients to recall which providers had asked them about their medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Research staff approached 354 patients; median age was 45 years (interquartile range 29-53 years). Two hundred and forty-nine (70%) completed a form, 61 (17%) were too ill, 19 (5%) could not read it, and 25 (7%) refused to participate. Excluding refusals, 249 of 329 (76%; 95% confidence interval 70-80%) were able to complete the form. Of 209 patients recalling their visit, 180 (86%) indicated that multiple providers took a history, including 103 in which every provider did so, and 9 (4%) indicated that no provider took a medication history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The process of ED medication information transfer often involves redundant efforts by the health care team. More than 70% of patients presenting for Emergency care were able to complete a self-administered medication information form.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Witting
authors.forename: Bryan D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schenkel
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Drucker
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: DeWane
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lantry
authors.forename: Satyam V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Vashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D059065:Medication Reconciliation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011996:Records; D057566:Self Report