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October 1, 2009
Press
Contact: Sharon Corbitt 202-497-5374; scorbitt@aphanet.org
Survey Reveals Most Consumers Do Not Carry A Medication List
Americans urged to get to know their pharmacist
WASHINGTON, DC – A medication list can provide
emergency medical personnel with lifesaving information and help prevent
the nearly 1.5 million¹ people harmed by medication related errors
every year. But, a recent consumer survey commissioned by the American
Pharmacists Association (APhA) and conducted by Harris Interactive
revealed that while a large percentage of Americans have an up-to-date
list of their prescription medications, only 28 percent of consumers
carry the list with them at all times.
Among the people who do not have an up-to-date list, 49 percent said
they never thought about it and 36 percent said they have no desire or
need to carry the list. Females (31%) are more likely than males (24%)
to carry a list. In addition, as consumers age, the likelihood that they
carry a list significantly increases.
APhA recommends that people always carry an updated list of their
prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbal
products. The list should include the name and dosages of the
medications, as well as what conditions the medications treat and any of
the patient’s known allergies.
“One of the most important things consumers can do to take an
active role in their health care is carry a current medication
list,” said Kristen Binaso pharmacist and APhA national
spokesperson. “Until electronic medical records are the standard
and can be shared across providers, consumers should be sharing their
list with all of their health care providers to minimize the risk of
improper dosing, duplicating medications, and harmful drug interactions
and side effects.”
Throughout the year, but in particular during American Pharmacists Month
in October, APhA is urging consumers to get to know their pharmacist
through its “Know Your MEDICINE, Know Your PHARMACIST”
public education campaign. The campaign underscores the link between
knowing your pharmacist and the safe and effective use of medications.
Improper medication use has been estimated to cost our nation $177
billion² annually in total direct and indirect healthcare
costs.
The survey also found that although pharmacists are the medication
experts, 77 percent of consumers do not know their pharmacists name and
only 40 percent have asked their pharmacist questions about their health
care needs in the past year. These statistics are troubling to
pharmacists given that they are the most accessible health care
providers to the public. While a large percentage of consumers do not
know the name of their pharmacist, they still rank pharmacists as the
second most trusted source of medication information behind doctors.
“Pharmacists are consumers’ ally in helping them make the
best use of their medications,” said Binaso. “We have years
of advanced training about how medications can work to improve health
and how to help consumers use medications correctly and we are eager to
become more involved with our patients’
health.”
To maximize the benefits from medications and minimize the potential
for harmful drug interactions and side effects, APhA recommends that
consumers ask these questions before taking any type of
medication— particularly those who take multiple medications,
dietary supplements and/or OTC medications.
- When and how you should I take my medication?
- What should I do if I miss a dose?
- Are there any potential side effects?
- Will my medication(s) interact with other medications or food?
- How do I safely dispose of unused medications?
Other highlights in the survey include:
- Those who know their pharmacists name are more likely to have an
up-to-date medication list.
- Two-thirds of consumers accept their pharmacist's recommendations of
OTC products at least most of the time.
- Sixty percent of respondents use one pharmacy to fill
prescriptions.
- Fifty-two percent of respondents are likely to ask their pharmacist
a question when they receive a prescription for the first time
To download a medication list or to find tips on how to talk to your
pharmacist and use medicines safely, visit www.pharmacist.com/APhM.
About the 2009 Know Your Medicine; Know Your Pharmacist
Survey
The "2009 Know Your Medicine; Know Your Pharmacist" survey was
commissioned by the American Pharmacists Association and conducted in
May 2009 by Harris Interactive.
Survey Objective: To collect and report information
about how consumers interact with and perceive their pharmacist and how
their relationship with the pharmacist impacts their use of
medications.
Survey Sample: 1,003 qualified respondents from a
nationally representative panel. The survey included a similar
percentage of men and women and included respondents age 21 and
over.
Statistical Confidence: plus/minus 3 percent.
About the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American
Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 62,000 practicing
pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy
technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA,
dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance
patient care, is the first-established and largest association of
pharmacists in the United States. APhA members provide care in all
practice settings, including community pharmacies, health systems,
long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, hospice settings,
and the uniformed services.
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¹Aspden P, Wolcott J, Bootman JL, Cronenwett, LR eds. Preventing
Medication Errors: Quality Chasm Series. Washington, DC: The National
Academies Press; 2007.
²Ernst FR, Grizzle AJ. Drug-related morbidity and mortality:
updating the cost-of-illness model. J Am Pharm Assoc.
2001;41:192–9.
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