Physician, Hear Thyself

Naturally, if a patient does not understand or only partially understands the purpose for which a medication was prescribed, that could make the patient more likely to misuse it — to take a blood pressure medication for pain, for example — or to simply forgo filling the prescription.

One explanation for the poor showing among physicians in the study may be that medical practitioners assume pharmacists will provide patients with these and other facts, including how many pills to take, how often, and for how long. But Tarn notes that the educational role of the pharmacist vis-à-vis the physician is not clearly spelled out, and in practice varies widely.

Moreover, while that type of misunderstanding might be a factor, Tarn has observed that the most common reason for the spotty communication between doctor and patient comes down to the clock. "The visits are short, and many doctors feel pressed for time," she says. So patients can get the message that questions are not welcomed, and are reluctant or embarrassed to seek clarity.

"If patients have any questions," Tarn says, "they need to be assertive in making sure those questions are answered before they leave the doctor's office."

The Perscription Top 10

Protect your health. Ask your doctor or pharmacist these questions from the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. And for more tips, log on to www.ahrq.gov.

• What is the name of the medicine?
• What is its purpose?
• Will substituting a less expensive generic medicine for the name brand achieve the same effect?
• What are the dose and frequency with which the medicine should be taken?
• What should I do if I miss a dose or accidentally take too much?
• How long should I continue to take the medication?
• Are there any foods, drinks, other medicines or activities I should avoid when taking the drug?
• How long should it take for the medication to work, and how do I know if it is working?
• What are the possible side effects, and what should I do if they occur?
• Is there any written information I can take home with me?

Published Jan 1, 2007 8:00 AM