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How do you ensure patients are properly educated about their medications?

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Yolancia’s Answer

Often times, the patient's healthcare providers will write down all medications, including dosages and times. All medication bottles have this information to educate and remind the patient at home. Also, pharmacists are often times more knowledgeable if patients ever have any questions or concerns. Patients have 3 month or 6 month or annual visits in order to check in with their primary care physicians. At these visits, primary care physicians ask patients how their medications are going or if there are any side effects and discuss the purpose of the medications. Many medications require monitoring through routine blood work, which can also inform the patient about how their medications are affecting their bodies.
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Tonya’s Answer

One way I have ensured my patients were properly educated about their medication was I would ask the patient (and the support person who was going to support the patient with their medication) questions. The focus of the questions was to see what the patient understood versus what I educated the patient on. The reason is, I can educate the patient, but I do not know if the patient understands or learned anything from the information I provided. I need to know what the patient understands (in the language they prefer) and what the patient still needs to learn.

Here are some sample questions:
Tell me what you think the medication is for. Tell me how you think the medication will work with your health condition(s). How do you think you will incorporate taking the medication into your daily activities? Can you tell me two (2) side effects? Can you tell me when you think there is a problem with the medication and when you would contact me? Can you tell me why you need to continue taking the medication?

The questions are focused on what the patient knows. And, the patient should be encouraged and praised on what they did understand.

I hope this helps.
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