Towards patient-centred communication in the management of older patients' medications across transitions of care: A focused ethnographic study.

The study was qualitative, so it describes communication patterns and preferences rather than testing whether a communication strategy improves medication safety or patient outcomes. Data came from two hospitals in Melbourne, so findings may not transfer to other settings. Severe dementia was excluded, so it says little about patients with severe cognitive impairment. Casual nurses were excluded, so the nursing findings reflect staff who worked in the wards at least 1 day per week. Family members had to speak and understand English, and non-English-speaking patients were included in observations only if they could consent with family or interpreters, which may limit how language barriers were captured. Researchers observed practice, so health professionals may have changed behaviour because they knew they were being watched.

The authors declared no conflict of interest. The study was funded by the Australian Research Council.

Do not read these communication strategies as proven ways to reduce medication incidents or improve medication safety. The study observed talk and preferences in hospital wards. It did not test whether changing nurses' or pharmacists' communication improves medication safety or patient experiences.