Simple instruction sheet helps patients take medications before surgery

Editor's Note

Patients were more likely to take their regularly prescribed medications correctly before surgery when they were provided a simple instruction sheet, finds this study presented October 24 at the Anesthesiology 2016 annual meeting.

For the study, 48 patients were given verbal instructions and 57 were given a new, simple medication instruction sheet that nurses filled in with them in a pre-assessment clinic.

With use of the instruction sheet, the rate in which patients correctly took or omitted their medications increased from 54% to 74%. The number of patients who incorrectly omitted their medications decreased from 42% to 25%, and those who incorrectly took their medications decreased from 6% to 2%.

Taking medication correctly before surgery can improve patient safety and reduce day-of-surgery cancellations, the researchers note.

CHICAGO - Patients may be more likely to take their regularly prescribed medications for chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension correctly before surgery when provided a simple instruction sheet, reveals a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2016 annual meeting. Taking medication correctly before surgery can improve patient safety and comfort, and reduce day-of-surgery cancellations.