Patients’ and providers’ perceptions of the computer-generated written medication reminder for post-discharge self-management: a comparative study

Background The hospital discharge for older adults carries risks like adverse drug events. Effective patient-provider communication is crucial for post-acute care. Technology-based discharge communication tools have shown promise in improving patient experience and outcomes. However, there is limited research comparing older adult patients and health provider perspectives on a large-scale basis. In response, this study aims to evaluate a computer-generated written medication reminder by exploring and comparing patient and provider perspectives. Method This study comprised a cross-sectional staff survey and a before-and-after territory-wide cross-sectional patient survey. Staff who have experience with this program were all invited. Their practice situation and perceptions of the program were measured with self-administered paper-based questionnaires. Older adult patients or their caregivers were randomly selected and interviewed via telephone within 14 days of their discharge from the medical department. Their experience with medication information and the program was solicited, along with their medication-taking behaviors. Results A total of 1375 health providers and 2691 patients participated in the survey. From the staff side, the implementation of the program showed inconsistency, with only 56% adherence. Staff members expressed modest satisfaction with their program experiences, as indicated by mean scores ranging from 5 to 7 on a satisfaction scale of 0 to 10. On the other hand, patients reported a significant improvement in the clarity, adequacy, and usefulness of discharge medication information. Patients who received the service also reported encountering fewer self-reported side effects. When comparing the perceptions of the program, patients rated significantly higher in terms of information clarity, adequacy, usefulness, and overall experiences compared to providers. Conclusions Computer-generated medication reminders have potential in improving patient experience with discharge information. However, a notable disparity exists between patients and providers. This may hinder the program's benefits. Future research should explore barriers and strategies to enhance staff performance.