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Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks

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<strong>Explor<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>patient</strong> <strong>participation</strong> <strong>in</strong> reduc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>health</strong>-<strong>care</strong>-<strong>related</strong> <strong>safety</strong> <strong>risks</strong><br />

90<br />

Recommendation 5 – Pay specific attention to <strong>patient</strong>s with a history of ADRs (<strong>health</strong><br />

professional level)<br />

Significant attention should be paid to <strong>patient</strong>s’ medication history, with a focus on<br />

previously experienced ADRs (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g those <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g OTC drugs and dietary<br />

supplements): these are crucial factors <strong>in</strong> safe pharmacotherapy.<br />

Recommendation 6 – Educate <strong>patient</strong>s (<strong>patient</strong> level)<br />

There is a clear need for <strong>patient</strong> education, not only to improve <strong>health</strong> literacy, but also<br />

to facilitate communication with <strong>health</strong> <strong>care</strong> professionals on medic<strong>in</strong>es prescribed and<br />

treatment courses followed (such as checklists like the Institute for Safe Medication<br />

Practices model, medic<strong>in</strong>es memos and medic<strong>in</strong>es lists). Doctors should articulate their<br />

expectations relat<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>patient</strong>s br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g along their lists of medications with updated<br />

names and dosages, and <strong>patient</strong>s should be made aware of the necessity of compil<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

list of the medications they take. In addition, there is a need for <strong>patient</strong> education on the<br />

use of OTC drugs and the boundaries of safe self-<strong>care</strong> and treatment. Patients should<br />

be encouraged to use all potential sources of <strong>in</strong>formation about all medic<strong>in</strong>es, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />

prescribed medic<strong>in</strong>es, OTC drugs, dietary supplements and herbal remedies, as this<br />

contributes to medication <strong>safety</strong> and reduction of potentially <strong>related</strong> complications.<br />

Recommendation 7 – Involve <strong>patient</strong> organizations (<strong>patient</strong> level)<br />

Patient organizations need to play an active role as advocates and promoters of <strong>safety</strong>culture<br />

changes. Enhanc<strong>in</strong>g appropriate developments <strong>in</strong>cludes rais<strong>in</strong>g awareness and<br />

strengthen<strong>in</strong>g knowledge relat<strong>in</strong>g to the potential and expected roles that <strong>patient</strong>s can<br />

play <strong>in</strong> reduc<strong>in</strong>g medication-<strong>related</strong> <strong>safety</strong> <strong>risks</strong>, as well as provid<strong>in</strong>g empowerment and<br />

encouragement for the <strong>in</strong>dividuals and organizations <strong>in</strong> this participative process<br />

(Annex 6).<br />

References<br />

1. Recommendation Rec(2006)7 of the Committee of M<strong>in</strong>isters to Member States on<br />

management of <strong>patient</strong> <strong>safety</strong> and prevention of adverse events <strong>in</strong> <strong>health</strong> <strong>care</strong>. (Adopted<br />

by the Committee of M<strong>in</strong>isters on 24 May 2006 at the 965th meet<strong>in</strong>g of the M<strong>in</strong>isters’<br />

Deputies.) Strasbourg, Council of Europe, 2006 (https://wcd.coe.<strong>in</strong>t/ViewDoc.<br />

jsp?id=1005439&Site=CM, accessed 1 May 2012).<br />

2. European Council recommendation of 9 June 2009 on <strong>patient</strong> <strong>safety</strong>, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

prevention and control of <strong>health</strong><strong>care</strong> associated <strong>in</strong>fections (2009/0003 CNS). Brussels,<br />

Council of the European Union, 2009 (http://ec.europa.eu/<strong>health</strong>/ph_systems/<br />

docs/<strong>patient</strong>_rec2009_en.pdf, accessed 1 May 2012).<br />

3. Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011<br />

on the application of <strong>patient</strong>s’ rights <strong>in</strong> cross-border <strong>health</strong><strong>care</strong> (2008/0142/COD).<br />

Strasbourg, European Parliament and Council, 2011 (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/<br />

LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:088:0045:0065:EN:PDF, accessed 1<br />

May 2012).<br />

4. Woroń J. Niekorzystne <strong>in</strong>terakcje leków w farmakoterapii geriatrycznej [Unwanted<br />

drug <strong>in</strong>teractions <strong>in</strong> geriatric pharmacotherapy]. Terapia, 2009, 1:1–7.<br />

5. Polish Patients’ Federation [web site]. Warsaw, Federacja Pacjentów Polskich<br />

(http://www.federacjapp.pl/, accessed 1 May 2012).

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