The Patient Medication List: Can We Get Patients More Involved in Their Medical Care?

Article Figures & Data

Table 1.

Demographics of the Participants at the Study Onset* and at Phone Follow-up 4 to 11 Months Later†

Table 2.

Themes in Comments of Respondents Using the Medication List Card

Personal Reference	• When I look at it, it guides me what medications I have to continue taking. Reference when order medicine from Pathmark.
	• Told me what I was on because I don't remember all the time the medications I am on.
Physician Reference	• Excellent. Useful at doctor's office. When I went to doctor's office and I didn't have everything on file [it was useful]. Easier for doctor to know, to update.
	• When I go to doctors and when they ask me my medications and I need to clarify [I can use the card].
Reference Across Healthcare Settings	• Helpful. When I go to doctor and they check my medications I can hand it over to them. It makes it easy for the doctor. Anytime going to doctor; foot doctor, heart specialist, another doctor. Easy to put in my wallet.
	• It is very helpful. I take it with me to doctors’ appointments and to [emergency room].
	• Also useful when filling out Plan D information.
Family Reference	• My wife was never given a card. Why is that? I think everyone should have one.

Table 3.

Responses of Patients Who Reported Not Using the Medication List Card*

Response	n
Wanted another copy of the card sent to them	12
Reported planning to use the card in the future	1
Reported thinking that the card is a “good idea” or “useful”	3
Reported using their own wallet medication list card	3

* Forty-one of 66 patients who were contacted reported not using the medication list card. Of these, 16 indicated interest in the card and 3 were using their own.