Identify practice gaps in medication education through surveys to patients and physicians

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic characteristics of patients (N=108)

Demographics	Participants, n (%)
Sex
Male	47 (43.5)
Female	61 (56.5)
Age (years)
<20	4 (3.7)
20–30	40 (37.0)
30–40	28 (25.9)
40–50	19 (17.6)
50–60	10 (9.3)
>60	7 (6.5)
Education level
Less than high school	7 (6.5)
High school	10 (9.3)
2-year college	25 (23.1)
4-year college	46 (42.6)
Above college	20 (18.5)
Method of medication payment
Self-pay	20 (18.5)
Free medical care	37 (34.3)
Insurance for urban residents	18 (16.7)
Basic insurance for urban workers	29 (26.9)
New rural cooperative medical system	2 (1.9)
Other type of insurance	2 (1.9)

Table 2 Demographic characteristics of physicians (N=116)

Demographics	Participants, n (%)
Sex
Male	60 (51.7)
Female	56 (48.3)
Age (years)
<20	2 (1.7)
20–30	33 (28.4)
30–40	59 (50.9)
40–50	18 (15.5)
50–60	2 (1.7)
>60	2 (1.7)
Specialty
Internal medicine	44 (37.9)
Surgery	72 (62.1)
Level of professional rank
Entry-level	38 (32.8)
Mid-level	46 (39.7)
Advanced level	32 (27.6)

Table 3 Patient degree of concern regarding medication information

Items	n (%)					Mean rankinga
	Never care	Seldom care	Sometimes care	Often care	Care a lot
Dose	0 (0.0)	7 (6.5)	7 (6.5)	30 (27.8)	64 (59.3)	4.40
Administration route	3 (2.8)	7 (6.5)	10 (9.3)	30 (27.8)	58 (53.7)	4.23
Duration of therapy	1 (0.9)	8 (7.4)	12 (11.1)	39 (36.1)	48 (44.4)	4.16
Administration instructions	0 (0.0)	10 (9.3)	16 (14.8)	40 (37.0)	42 (38.9)	4.06
Dosing frequency	2 (1.9)	6 (5.6)	21 (19.4)	37 (34.3)	42 (38.9)	4.03
Adverse reactions	1 (0.9)	13 (12.0)	19 (17.6)	31 (28.7)	44 (40.7)	3.96
Indication(s)	1 (0.9)	5 (4.6)	27 (25.0)	41 (38.0)	34 (31.5)	3.94
Drug–drug interactions	3 (2.8)	14 (13.0)	23 (21.3)	26 (24.1)	42 (38.9)	3.83
Onset of action	0 (0.0)	15 (13.9)	24 (22.2)	35 (32.4)	34 (31.5)	3.81
Special precautions	2 (1.9)	11 (10.2)	30 (27.8)	32 (29.6)	33 (30.6)	3.77
Drug–disease interactions	6 (5.6)	15 (13.9)	23 (21.2)	27 (25.0)	37 (34.3)	3.69
Medication efficacy	4 (3.7)	21 (19.4)	18 (16.7)	29 (26.9)	36 (33.3)	3.67
Drug–food interactions	4 (3.7)	19 (17.6)	25 (23.1)	25 (23.1)	35 (32.4)	3.63
Medication name	8 (7.4)	13 (12.0)	25 (23.1)	32 (29.6)	30 (27.8)	3.58
Drug storage	6 (5.6)	18 (16.7)	22 (20.4)	37 (34.3)	25 (23.1)	3.53
Medication price	13 (12.0)	23 (21.3)	26 (24.1)	30 (27.8)	16 (14.8)	3.12

Note:

a Each item was rated with a 5-point Likert scale (ranging from 1= “never care” to 5= “care a lot”).

Table 4 Physician degree of concern regarding medication information

Items	n (%)					Mean rankinga
	Never care	Seldom care	Sometimes care	Often care	Care a lot
Indication(s)	2 (1.7)	1 (0.9)	6 (5.2)	41 (35.3)	66 (56.9)	4.45
Administration route	2 (1.7)	0 (0.0)	10 (8.6)	39 (33.6)	65 (56.0)	4.42
Dose	2 (1.7)	0 (0.0)	12 (10.3)	43 (37.1)	59 (50.9)	4.35
Dosing frequency	2 (1.7)	0 (0.0)	13 (11.2)	50 (43.1)	51 (44.0)	4.28
Duration of therapy	3 (2.6)	2 (1.7)	14 (12.1)	56 (48.3)	41 (35.3)	4.12
Adverse reactions	2 (1.7)	7 (6.0)	17 (14.7)	40 (34.5)	50 (43.1)	4.11
Medication name	4 (3.4)	5 (4.3)	28 (24.1)	37 (31.9)	42 (36.2)	3.93
Onset of action	3 (2.6)	13 (11.2)	27 (23.3)	41 (35.3)	32 (27.6)	3.74
What to do if no anticipated effects	3 (2.6)	17 (14.7)	27 (23.3)	41 (35.3)	28 (24.1)	3.64
Drug–drug/drug–food/drug–disease interactions/contraindications	2 (1.7)	17 (14.7)	28 (24.1)	46 (39.7)	23 (19.8)	3.61
What to do if a dose is missed	7 (6.0)	28 (24.1)	36 (31.0)	33 (28.4)	12 (10.3)	3.13
Drug storage	4 (3.4)	34 (29.3)	39 (33.6)	25 (21.6)	14 (12.1)	3.09

Note:

a Each item was rated with a 5-point Likert scale (ranging from 1= “never care” to 5= “care a lot”).

Table 5 Patient average degree of concern based on demographic category

Demographics	Average degree of concern regarding medication information (mean ± SD)	P-value
Sex		0.001
Male	4.04±0.65
Female	3.58±0.66
Age (years)		0.227
<20	3.58±0.94
20–30	3.74±0.69
30–40	3.77±0.78
40–50	4.06±0.53
50–60	4.19±0.52
>60	3.64±0.70
Education level		0.184
Less than high school	3.57±0.49
High school	4.01±0.50
2-year college	4.11±0.71
4-year college	3.73±0.65
Above college	3.74±0.82
Method of medication payment		0.660
Self-pay	3.73±0.73
Free medical care	3.92±0.78
Insurance for urban residents	3.93±0.68
Basic insurance for urban workers	3.84±0.53
New rural cooperative medical system	3.63±0.18
Other type of insurance	2.84±0.40

Table 6 Physician average degree of concern based on demographic category

Demographics	Average degree of concern regarding medication information (mean ± SD)	P-value
Sex		0.662
Male	3.87±0.82
Female	3.93±0.58
Age (years)		0.216
<20	3.67±1.53
20–30	3.67±0.69
30–40	3.97±0.67
40–50	4.17±0.73
50–60	4.12±0.53
>60	3.96±1.24
Specialty		0.004
Internal medicine	4.12±0.44
Surgery	3.78±0.81
Professional rank		0.048
Entry-level	3.68±0.71
Mid-level	4.02±0.61
Advanced-level	4.01±0.79

Table 7 Information regarding the content of medication education reported by patients

Education content	Education received (ER, %)	Education desired (ED, %)	Difference (ED–ER, %)
Adverse reactions	49.1	62.0	12.9
Indication(s)	73.1	61.1	−12.0
Drug–drug interactions	22.2	48.1	25.9
Drug–food interactions	19.4	45.4	26.0
Contraindications	45.4	45.4	0.0
Dose	59.3	43.5	−15.8
What to do if adverse reaction experienced	14.8	43.5	28.7
Onset of action	28.7	41.7	13.0
Duration of therapy	27.8	40.7	12.9
Dosing frequency	46.3	35.2	−11.1
Administration route	51.9	31.5	−20.4
Medication name	68.5	26.9	−41.6
Medication storage	19.4	26.9	7.5

Table 8 Information regarding sources of medication education reported by patients

Education delivery method	Method received (MR, %)	Method desired (MD, %)	Difference (MD–MR, %)
Physician counseling	78.7	82.4	3.7
Pharmacist counseling	38.0	50.9	12.9
CMI	74.1	42.6	−31.5
Auxiliary label	46.3	38.0	−8.3
Patient focused handout	10.2	32.4	22.2
Online consultation	44.4	27.8	−16.6
Telephone consultation	1.9	23.1	21.2
Medication database embedded within hospital information system	4.5	16.7	12.2
Device demonstration	3.7	15.7	12.0
Lectures	11.1	15.7	4.6
Pamphlets	9.3	13.9	4.6

Abbreviation: CMI, consumer medication information.