Chapter 3 – Promoting positive outcomes of drug therapy
Opportunities to promote positive outcomes in drug therapy
Drug education
Monitoring
Promoting adherence
Medication reviews
Medication Education
Opportunity to explain importance of the med and dispel rumors
Reduces medication errors, empowers patients with accurate and clear guidelines
Medication Education Components
Medication name
Purpose
Dosing
Administration
Adverse effects
Storage
Lab testing
Food or drug interactions
Duration of therapy
Medication Name
There are pt who only know the purpose of the med and not the name which
increases the risk of errors
Pt should carry list of meds listing both brand name and generic to prevent same
drug being prescribed twice
Purpose
Pt awareness increases compliance which produces positive outcomes and achieves
the therapeutic goal
Dosing
Review rx with patient even though it is written on label to ensure understanding and
lend the opportunity to ask questions
Explain regimens such as “four times a day” or “once a day.”
Explain what to do if dose is missed
Administration
Explain whether or not to take with food
Shake suspensions to equally disperse ingredients, or roll to avoid foaming
Teach how to use any special apparatus like inhaled drugs
Adverse Effects
Pt has a right to know harms of treatment even if it means they will likely refuse it
Approach matters
Most adverse drug effects occur in 1-2% of those taking it
Opportunities to promote positive outcomes in drug therapy
Drug education
Monitoring
Promoting adherence
Medication reviews
Medication Education
Opportunity to explain importance of the med and dispel rumors
Reduces medication errors, empowers patients with accurate and clear guidelines
Medication Education Components
Medication name
Purpose
Dosing
Administration
Adverse effects
Storage
Lab testing
Food or drug interactions
Duration of therapy
Medication Name
There are pt who only know the purpose of the med and not the name which
increases the risk of errors
Pt should carry list of meds listing both brand name and generic to prevent same
drug being prescribed twice
Purpose
Pt awareness increases compliance which produces positive outcomes and achieves
the therapeutic goal
Dosing
Review rx with patient even though it is written on label to ensure understanding and
lend the opportunity to ask questions
Explain regimens such as “four times a day” or “once a day.”
Explain what to do if dose is missed
Administration
Explain whether or not to take with food
Shake suspensions to equally disperse ingredients, or roll to avoid foaming
Teach how to use any special apparatus like inhaled drugs
Adverse Effects
Pt has a right to know harms of treatment even if it means they will likely refuse it
Approach matters
Most adverse drug effects occur in 1-2% of those taking it
