Do the caregivers of hospitalized children understand how to administer the children's medication after returning home?

A recent JAMA study investigates this question, testing whether health literacy-informed communication at patient discharge decreased medication errors by caregivers.

To learn more, check out the ADL's February 15 Highlighted Article:
Health Literacy–Informed Communication to Reduce Discharge Medication Errors in Hospitalized Children

Key Points

Question  Does a health literacy–informed communication intervention, compared with standard counseling, reduce discharge medication errors in hospitalized children of English- and Spanish-speaking caregivers?

Findings  In this randomized clinical trial including 198 caregivers of hospitalized children, a health literacy–informed communication intervention (written, pictogram-based medication instruction sheet, liquid medication dosing demonstration, and structured teach back and show back) resulted in significantly fewer caregiver medication errors and more accurate caregiver medication knowledge compared with standard counseling.

Meaning  Findings of this trial indicate that health literacy–informed communication tools improve the safety of the discharge medication counseling process and should be the standard of care to facilitate safe transitions from hospital discharge to home.