State hospital patients and their medication--do they know what they take?

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Abstract
The population of a state hospital (n = 281) was surveyed to ascertain the level of knowledge patients had about their medication. Of the patients, .apprx. 8% correctly indicated the name of at least 1 medication they were taking, its dosage schedule and its intended effect; .apprx. 54% of the patients evidenced no understanding of the medication they were regularly taking. Significant differences in understanding of medication were found as a function of diagnosis, age and length of stay. The finding that few patients were knowledgeable about their medication raises doubts about recent court rulings on patients'' competency to refuse medication.

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