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A self-medication scheme in a post-coronary care unit.

K Noy
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Abstract

The drug knowledge of 107 patients was determined before and after entering a self-medication scheme on the post-coronary care unit (PCCU) at City Hospital, Birmingham, and approximately 6 weeks post-discharge when these patients attended their cardiac rehabilitation classes. Fifty-two completed questionnaires were returned. The results indicated a general increase in patients knowledge about the names and side-effects of their drugs, the times at which they take them and the reasons for taking them, following self-medication. A smaller number of questionnaires (19) were completed 6 weeks after discharge. The responses to these suggested that patients who self-medicated in hospital showed greater drug knowledge, especially with regard to potential side-effects, than those who had not. Patients' confidence in their ability to self-medicate safely at home showed no relation to their actual knowledge. It is suggested that self-medication on the PCCU is an important part of the cardiac rehabilitation programme.

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Coronary Care UnitsEducational MeasurementHumansPatient Education as TopicSelf AdministrationSurveys and QuestionnairesJournal Article

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K Noy. A self-medication scheme in a post-coronary care unit.. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.1997.6.7.369

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