More than 75% of ER patients don’t understand physician instructions
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
July 9, 2008
A new study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine says that more than 75% of patients in the emergency room (ER) don't adhere correctly to discharge instructions given by a physician. This is because most do not understand the instructions. Additionally, most patients don't realize that they don't understand the discharge instructions, which can create for an even more dangerous situation.
The study was done by interviewing 140 English-speaking patients after they had visited two ERs in Michigan. This topic is not new—studies around patients' lack of comprehension of their discharge instructions after visiting the ER were done in the 1990s as well. However, new communication techniques were thought to have helped raise comprehension rates.
To view the study, click here.
