Sammanfattning
Background: Investigate how changes in hip fracture patients medication lists and therapeutic recommendations noted in their discharge letters were followed up post discharge, and general practitioners perception of the letter.
Material and method: Patients and their doctors were interviewed minimum 6 weeks post discharge. All medication changes and recommendations from the discharge letter were reviewed and the outcome stated in the interviews was noted. In two focus group interviews the doctors were asked about their experience with these letters.
Results: 17 of 32 doctors had read the discharge letter, and 54% of the changes and recommendations were followed through. The most common cause for not reading the discharge letter or following through a change or recommendation, was that the patient had not yet been to consultation. 70% was followed through at the patient level. Therapeutic recommendations were regarded as a substantial support for assessing drug therapy and contributed to further learning.
Conclusion: The medication changes and therapeutic recommendations were followed through to a greater extent when the doctors had both read the discharge letter and had the patient for consultation. Discharge letters written by pharmacists were seen as a valuable asset by the doctors.