Communication relating to family members' involvement and understandings about patients' medication management in hospital

Abstract

Background: Many patients with complex health-care needs are prescribed several medications on a daily basis. With admission to hospital, patients are often placed in a vulnerable position. Family members can therefore play an important role in supporting patients in decision making about managing medications and negotiating communication exchange with health professionals. Objectives: From the perspective of family members, to explore family members' involvement with health professionals and patients about how patients' medications are managed in hospital. Design: Using an ethnographic design, interviews were conducted with family members of patients admitted to hospital who had at least fi..