Patient Involvement in Medication Safety

Key Points ..............................................................................................................249 Introduction ............................................................................................................250 Patient-Related Medication Safety Behaviors .......................................................250 Factors Contributing to Patient Involvement in Medication Safety ....................... 251

Patient Factors ................................................................................................... 251 Demographic Factors ................................................................................... 251 Illness-Related Factors ................................................................................. 252 Patient’s Knowledge and Experience ........................................................... 252 Psychological Factors ................................................................................... 253

Task Factors .......................................................................................................254 Individual Health Care Professional Factors ..................................................... 255 Team Factors .....................................................................................................256 Environmental Factors ......................................................................................256 Organizational Factors ...................................................................................... 257

Interventions to Encourage Patient and Carer Involvement ................................... 257 Patients .............................................................................................................. 257 Carers ................................................................................................................260

Lessons Learned from Other Patient Safety Interventions ....................................260 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 261 Commentary ........................................................................................................... 261

One approach to reducing the incidence of medication errors is to facilitate the greater involvement of patients with medication safety. It is increasingly recognized that it is essential to involve patients with their medication (Department of Health 2010; Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain 1997), including involvement in enhancing safety (Department of Health 2010; Lawton and Armitage 2012). Such involvement of patients can increase their satisfaction, improve their health outcomes, and reduce the likelihood of avoidable harm (Coulter and Ellins 2006). Patients and their carers are arguably likely to know a great deal about their usual medication. They are thus an important (and often nal) defense against errors relating to their medication.