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Identify and describe patient engagement interventions used to improve medication management in older adults during transitions of care.
A mixed-methods systematic review.
A comprehensive search of all study designs was conducted. Studies were categorised using the ladder of patient and family engagement, a framework that positions engagement from low (passive) to high (active partnership) patient engagement.
Six databases were searched from inception to April 2024.
The search yielded 29 reports, with 25 classified as studies. Most interventions (n = 19, 76%) were low-level interventions that comprised informing patients in a passive manner. Interventions that facilitated high-level engagement (n = 6, 24%) where patients were integrated in the decision-making process were associated with consistently improved patient and healthcare long-term outcomes.
While low and high-level engagement interventions were associated with significantly decreased hospital readmission rates, high-level interventions consistently demonstrated positive patient outcomes. Interventions supporting older adults beyond discharge achieved meaningful and lasting patient and healthcare outcomes for older adults.
Findings provide clinical reference for designing engagement interventions, highlighting long-term benefits of partnership-based approaches and continuity beyond discharge.
Engagement in medication management during transitions of care varied significantly. High-level engagement was consistently linked to improved patient and healthcare outcomes but was often resource intensive. This review identifies the need to design balanced interventions that align with the preferences of older adults and real-world contextual healthcare settings.
PRISMA guidelines.
No patient or public contribution.
PROSPERO (registration number CRD42024557385).
To explore how residents and caregivers experience engagement in medication communication during transitions of care.
Qualitative exploratory study.
Nine residents and seven family caregivers from two rural aged care homes participated in semi-structured interviews between June and July 2024. Engagement in medication communication was assessed using the Patient and Family Engagement Framework. The COREQ checklist guided reporting of the study.
The study identified two main themes: (1) Medication communication during transitions into healthcare services; (2) Influences shaping residents' and caregivers' engagement in medication communication. Participants primarily experienced passive consultation about medications, mainly due to a lack of proactive engagement from healthcare providers, with both intrinsic and external factors significantly hindering their involvement in medication communication.
Participants had minimal engagement in medication communication during transitions, receiving mainly reactive, one-way information from providers. Improved communication strategies and greater involvement of residents and caregivers are needed to enhance medication safety and continuity of care in rural settings.
This study provides insights into medication communication engagement among rural aged care residents and their family caregivers. By applying the Patient and Family Engagement Framework, the findings highlight the need for proactive, clear and inclusive communication strategies to enhance medication safety and continuity of care. Improving engagement in medication discussions can support shared decision-making, reduce misunderstandings and improve transitions of care in rural aged care settings.
The study followed COREQ guidelines.
Residents and family caregivers participated through interviews.
FreshRSS 