Analysis of factors influencing the self-regulation of medication and construction of an educational program for patients with chronic hepatic diseases

The purpose of this study is to construct an educational program for patien ts with chronic hepatic diseases to avoid self-regulation of medication. We have statistically analyzed the influencing factors of self-regulation fro m the following 3 viewpoints. First, in the investigation of the number of and the kind of prescribed medicines, it was found that the number of presc ribed medicines increased sharply at the stage of Liver Cirrhosis b. Second ly, in the survey of patients' awareness of medication, it was found that s elf-regulation was influenced by lack of understanding the effects of medic ines and the necessity of medication, and by lack of understanding the clin ical conditions. Especially, at the stage of Liver Cirrhosis b, self-regula tion was strongly influenced by lack of understanding the clinical conditio ns. Lastly, in the evaluation of patients' characteristics by pharmacists, self-regulation was also strongly influenced by the level of understanding the necessity of medication, understanding the clinical conditions, a patie nt-doctor relationship, and anxiety about side-effects of medicines. Theref ore we have constructed an educational program for patients from the viewpo int of medication. The information consists of two articles; one is the act ion mechanism of the medicine connected with the clinical conditions to hel p the patients understand the necessity of medication; the other is how to check the effect and adverse reaction of the medication by themselves to de crease the anxiety about side-effects. Consequently, the medication managem ent and the consultation for inpatients with chronic hepatic diseases were standardized by incorporating the education with the information described above.