Patients' health literacy and experience with instructions: Influence preferences for heart failure medication instructions

Daniel G. Morrow, Michael Weiner, Douglas Steinley, James Young, Michael D. Murray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: We developed a pharmacist-based patient education intervention to improve older adults' adherence to chronic heart failure (CHF) medications, which included written patient-centered instructions. The study evaluated these instructions by examining whether patients preferred them to standard pharmacy instructions. Method: Elders diagnosed with CHF participated in the randomized controlled trial (83 in the intervention; 153 in usual care control group). Instruction preferences were collected after 6 months of participation. Results: Patient-centered instructions were preferred for learning about adherence information (e.g., schedule) and standard instructions for learning about drug interactions. Preference for the patient-centered instructions was greater for intervention versus control participants and for participants with lower health literacy. Literacy no longer predicted preferences with patients' cognitive abilities controlled, suggesting literacy reflected more fundamental cognitive mechanisms. Discussion: The finding that preferences varied with patients' experience using the instructions and cognitive abilities suggests instructions should accommodate diverse patient needs and abilities.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)575-593
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Aging and Health
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2007

Keywords

  • Chronic heart failure
  • Health communication
  • Health literacy
  • Medication instructions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Aging
  • Health(social science)
  • General Health Professions

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