Adherence to Hospital Discharge Medication in Patients With Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective, Interventional 2-Phase Study

Background and Purpose—Communication between hospitals and primary care physicians is essential for the continuity of care for patients being transferred from hospital to ambulatory care. Patients are often discharged from hospital on medication regimes different from those used before hospital admission. The aim of the study was to evaluate the adherence to hospital discharge medication in patients with ischemic stroke before and after implementing a systematic approach provided by a clinical pharmacist. Methods—Patients with transient ischemic attack/ischemic stroke taking ≥2 drugs during hospital stay and at discharge were prospectively recruited. In the control group, the neurologist included the medication list in the discharge letter as before. In the intervention group, the clinical pharmacist listed the medication on admission and at discharge next to each other and gave detailed information for all medication changes during hospital stay. Results—Overall, 312 patients were enrolled in the study w...