This study aims at investigating medication literacy of discharged patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in China, and the important determinants of medication literacy among them. For this purpose, we conducted a prospective cohort study. Patient’s demographic and clinical data were retrieved from hospital charts and medication literacy was measured by instructed interview using the Chinese version of Medication Literacy Questionnaire on Discharged Patient between 7 and 30 days after the patient was discharged from the hospital. The results show that medication literacy for the surveyed patients was insufficient: >20% did not have adequate knowledge on the types of drugs and the frequency that they need to take the drugs, >30% did not know the name of and the dosage of the drugs they are taking, and >70% did not have adequate knowledge on the effects and side effects of the drugs they are taking. Our research indicated that medication literacy scores decreased with age but increased with education. The number of medicines the discharged patient took with them and days between discharge and interview were not associated with medication literacy levels.
ObjectiveTo assess medication literacy status and to examine risk factors of inadequate medication literacy of outpatients in ambulatory care settings.MethodsStudy participants were recruited randomly from outpatient departments in four tertiary hospitals (Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, People’s Hospital of Hunan Province) in Changsha, Hunan, China, between October 2014 and January 2015. Medication literacy was assessed using the Medication Literacy Scale, Chinese version. Demographic and clinical data were collected using structured interviews. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the independent effects of demographic and clinical factors on medication literacy.ResultsOf 465 participants, 425 (91.4%) produced valid responses for analysis. The mean medication literacy score was 8.31 (standard deviation = 3.47). Medication literacy was adequate in 131 participants (30.8%), marginally adequate in 248 (58.4%), and inadequate in 46 (10.8%). The risk of inadequate medication literacy was greater for older and unmarried patients but lower for more educated patients.ConclusionMany Chinese outpatients in ambulatory care have inadequate medication literacy. Greater age, low education, and unmarried status are important risk factors of inadequate medication literacy.
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