Improving Comprehension of Medication Instructions in Older Adults with Heart Failure: A Patient-Centered Approach

Abstract

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is associated with reduced functional capacity and quality of life among older adults. Complex CHF medication regimens challenge older patients' ability to adhere to these regimens, in part because of cognitive declines and poor communication. We developed patient-centered instructions for CHF medications as part of a pharmacy-based educational intervention to improve health-related outcomes and adherence among older adults with heart failure. The present paper reports a preliminary study to test whether the instructions were easy to understand compared to instructions for the same medications available in a large chain pharmacy. Thirty-two patients varying in education, literacy, and cognitive abilities were presented instructions with patient-centered or standard formats for familiar and unfamiliar medications. Answer time and accuracy for questions were measured while patients looked at the instruction. The patient-centered instructions were understood more quickly than the standard instructions. They were also understood more accurately for unfamiliar medications, while the standard instructions were understood more accurately for familiar medications. These findings suggest that patient-centered instructions may improve patients' medication knowledge compared to standard pharmacy instructions.

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