Efficiency of the Information Given at Discharge and Adherence of Polymedicated Patients

Objective

To evaluate the utility of a post-discharge pharmaceutical care programme.

Method

Three-month prospective study where patients were randomised into two groups according to whether or not they received verbal and written information about their treatment at hospital discharge. Treatment compliance was assessed by the Morisky–Green test at discharge and at 30–50 days via a telephone interview, also collecting information on patient medication.

Results

A total of 59 patients were included, 30 in the control group and 29 in the experimental group. 42.1 ± 9.6 days had elapsed between discharge and the telephone interview. While a higher percentage of patients were adherent to treatment at discharge in the control group (83.3 versus 62.1%, OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.1–1.1, P=.07), in the telephone interview the percentage in the experimental group was greater (62.5 versus 88.5%, OR = 4.6, 95% CI: 1.1–19.8, P=.03). The differences between the two groups for the rest of the variables (deaths, visits to emergency department and hospital readmissions) were not statistically significant. In the telephone interview, 70% of patients’ treatment was changed in some way since hospital discharge.

Conclusion

A post-discharge pharmaceutical care programme is a tool to improve treatment compliance, which needs continuity due to the large number of treatment changes suffered by these patients.