title: Predictors of completeness of patients' self-reported personal medication lists and discrepancies with clinic medication lists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transfer of medication information during transitions in care is crucial to preventing medication errors. Few studies evaluate patients' self-reported personal medication lists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess completeness of personal medication lists and identify factors associated with incomplete personal lists and discrepancies between personal and clinic medication lists.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed patients' personal medication lists at an academic hospital preoperative clinic from January 2010 to October 2010. Completeness of personal medication lists was measured as reporting the name, dose, and frequency for all prescription and nonprescription medications or dietary supplements. Discrepancies between personal and clinic medication lists were measured as omitted medications or differing directions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 94 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 82 (87%) personal medication lists were evaluated. Most personal lists were incomplete (56%; 46/82), missing information for at least one medication reported; 94% (77/82) of personal lists had at least one discrepancy with clinic medication lists (median 4 discrepancies per patient list). On multivariate analyses, taking 10 or more medications (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.52; 95% CI = 1.37 to 9.08) and being divorced, widowed, or single (adjusted OR = 3.10; 95% CI = 1.05 to 9.12) were independent predictors of incomplete personal medication lists. Taking 10 or more medications (adjusted OR = 3.44; 95% CI = 1.35 to 8.78) was also associated with higher rates of medication discrepancies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' self-reported personal medication lists are often incomplete and have discrepancies with clinic medication lists. Interventions are needed to improve medication information transfer between patients, providers and healthcare systems.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Kirby P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ngu
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tieu
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Auerbach
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059065:Medication Reconciliation; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D057566:Self Report
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: medication errors; medication reconciliation; medication safety; patient education; patient safety; personal medication record