The medication experience: preliminary evidence of its value for patient education and counseling on chronic medications

Abstract

Objective: To describe medication therapy management (MTM) pharmacists' encounters with patients' medication experiences, to examine the utility of the medication experience in practice, and to explore the value of the medication experience in patient education and counseling on medications.

Methods: A focus group of 10 MTM pharmacists, and 1 pharmacist's 9-month practice diary were analyzed to reveal patients' medication experiences and the utility and value of the medication experience in practice.

Results: MTM pharmacists commonly encountered patients' medication experiences in their practices. The medication experience was often at the root of drug therapy problems (DTPs) the practitioners identified. The pharmacists identified several examples of drug therapy problems with an associated medication experience at the root. The medication experience was a meaningful construct to guide patient education and counseling on new chronic medications to ultimately prevent DTPs, and valuable for tailoring patient education and counseling on medications to resolve DTPs.

Conclusion: Our study provides preliminary evidence of the value of the medication experience for patient education and counseling on chronic medications in practice.

Practice implications: The medication experience is a valuable tool for practitioners to understand patients' needs, identify and resolve DTPs, and tailor patient education and counseling for chronic medications.