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Rationale, aims, and objectives Medication discrepancies place patients discharged from hospital at risk of adverse medication events. Patient and family participation in medication communication may improve medication safety. This study aimed to examine older medical patient and family participation in discharge medication communication. Methods Two‐phased mixed‐methods study. Data were collected from July 2018 to May 2019. Phase 1 comprised observations and a questionnaire of 30 patients pre‐hospital discharge. Phase 2 involved telephone interviews with 11 patients and family members post‐hospital discharge. Phase 1 analysis included descriptive statistics and deductive content analysis. Inductive content analysis was used in Phase 2. Phase 1 and 2 findings were integrated. Results For Phase 1, observational data were deductively coded against the “continuum of patient participation”; information‐giving was the most frequent level of participation observed on the continuum, followed by information‐seeking, shared decision making, non‐involved, and finally autonomous decision making. For descriptive statistics, written communication tools, noise, and interruptions were frequently observed during medication communication. In Phase 2, three categories were found about how patients and families participate, and the factors influencing their participation: (a) obtaining comprehensive medication information; (b) preferred approaches for receiving information; and (c) speaking about medications in hospital. Integrated findings showed that written communication tools and routine hospital tasks may promote, while lack of family presence and environmental factors may hinder medication communication. Patients' and families' role in medication communication ranged from asking questions to influencing decisions, and was enhanced by health care professionals' patient‐centred communication. Conclusions More active patient and family participation could be achieved by encouraging them to identify medication‐related problems. To create a climate for patient and family participation, health care professionals should use written communication tools, capitalize on participation opportunities during routine hospital tasks, and use patient‐centred communication.

Objectives To investigate the quality and readability of online patient information on treatment for erectile dysfunction using a Google search. Materials and methods The results of a Google search for “erectile dysfunction treatment” were reviewed. Webpages that contained written information on erectile dysfunction except those containing scientific publications and paywall protected webpages were included in further analysis. Typographic and treatment information were recorded. Readability was assessed using the Fleisch‐Kincaid grade level, the Gunning‐Fog index, the Coleman‐Liau index, and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook. Website quality was assessed using the DISCERN instrument, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, and presence of Health on the net (HON) code certification. Website typography, discussed treatment types, readability scores, and quality measures were reported. Parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were used to compare the data as appropriate dependent on the normality of data. Results Eighty‐one webpages were included. Urologists and hospitals were the most common producers with 15 (18%) each. Seventy‐four (91%) webpages contained specific information on treatment for erectile dysfunction and 15 (19%) contained advertisements. Seventeen (21%) webpages were HON code certified. The median DISCERN score was 35 (IQR 26.5‐44) out of 80. The mean combined readability score was 12.32 (SD 1.91). The median JAMA benchmark score was 1 (IQR 1‐2) out of 4. Google rank had a small negative correlation with DISCERN score (τ = −0.16, P = .036). HON code certified webpages had higher DISCERN scores (median of 44 [IQR 35‐58.5] vs 32.5 [IQR 25.25‐42.25], U = 832, Z = 6561, P < .001). A linear regression was used to predict DISCERN score based on meeting each JAMA benchmark criterion (F(2, 78) = 22.7, P < .001) R2 = 0.368, P < .001. Within this model the effects of meeting attribution (β = 11.09) and currency (β = 8.79) criterion were significant. Conclusions The quality of online information on treatment for erectile dysfunction is generally poor. However, easy to identify markers of quality like HON code certification, or meeting JAMA benchmark criterion for attribution and currency may help patients to navigate to better quality online information on treatment for erectile dysfunction. Webpages are written at senior high school level, above any recommendations for patient medical information. Health professionals should use validated instruments to assess the quality of online information on treatment for erectile dysfunction prior to publication to improve their utility for patients.

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