Chapter 3: Promoting Positive Outcomes

Question 1

promoting positive outcomes

Answer 1

Selecting and prescribing the most appropriate drug is the first step in providing safe and competent medication therapy ​

Ensuring positive outcomes requires:​
establishing a medication education plan​
monitoring of positive and negative patient responses ​
identifying and addressing issues of nonadherence​
managing the patient’s complete medication regimen

Question 2

medication education

Answer 2

Greatly impacts patient’s commitment to comply with medication plan​

Provides opportunity to explain the importance of the medication ​

Allows the provider to dispel rumors about medications ​

Reduces medication errors

Question 3

medication education components

Answer 3

medication name: generic vs. trade name​

purpose: reason for taking the medication, desired effect​

dosing regimen: how much, how often, time of day​

administration: preparation for taking, with or without food​

side effects: all risks and how to manage them​

special storage needs: refrigeration, original container​

associated laboratory testing: need for regular appointments​

food or drug interactions: what to avoid​

duration of therapy: length of administration

Question 4

Written instructions

Answer 4

Accompany all verbal education with written instructions

Best practices in developing written patient education materials:
Limit content
Important information first
Write in active voice
White space
Include Illustrations
Use common terms
Ensure readability

Question 5

Drug monitoring

Answer 5

Monitor for positive and negative patient responses
Act on findings in ways that increase benefit or decrease risk

Question 6

Three primary reasons for drug monitoring

Answer 6

Determining therapeutic dosage: laboratory testing
Evaluating medication adequacy: desired effect achieved
Identifying adverse effects: presence of patient harm

Question 7

Meditation adherence

Answer 7

the extent to which patients take their medications as prescribed by the provider and agreed to by the patient
Costs the U.S. health care system approximately $290 billion annually
Lack of adherence can lead to disease exacerbations, avoidable hospitalizations, transitioning to long-term (i.e., “nursing home”) care, and premature deaths
Factors affecting nonadherence: forgetfulness, lack of planning, cost, dissatisfaction, altered dosing

Question 8

Managing medication therapy

Answer 8

Periodically review patient’s medication therapy regimen

Collaborate with patient, family, other health care providers

Factors to evaluate:
Is desired effect achieved?
Is medication still necessary?
Does the medication create problems for the patient?
Is polypharmacy an issue?