Public and positive reinforcement may improve physicians' compliance with medication reconciliation, according to a study published in the American Journal of Medical Quality.
For the study, researchers compared compliance rates to medication reconciliation for 36 anesthesiology residents who work in an outpatient pain clinic. In the preintervention phase, the physicians were simply instructed to comply with the medication reconciliation process. In the postintervention phase, the same instructions were given and improvements were publicly praised. Researchers also audited more than 1,700 patient charts to determine any changes in compliance.
The study authors found a four-fold increase in compliance. After adjusting for adaptation of physicians over time and year, the odds of complying with the medication reconciliation process increased 82 percent in the postintervention phase. Researchers concluded positive and public praise of physicians could improve compliance rates.
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For the study, researchers compared compliance rates to medication reconciliation for 36 anesthesiology residents who work in an outpatient pain clinic. In the preintervention phase, the physicians were simply instructed to comply with the medication reconciliation process. In the postintervention phase, the same instructions were given and improvements were publicly praised. Researchers also audited more than 1,700 patient charts to determine any changes in compliance.
The study authors found a four-fold increase in compliance. After adjusting for adaptation of physicians over time and year, the odds of complying with the medication reconciliation process increased 82 percent in the postintervention phase. Researchers concluded positive and public praise of physicians could improve compliance rates.
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