Abstract
Two additions to the prescription form that will improve comprehension of and compliance with a prescription for the geriatric patient are suggested. First, because many elderly patients suffer from visual impairment, they may have difficulty reading the directions on the medication container. Therefore, the phrase 'TYPE INSTRUCTIONS IN LARGE PRINT' should be printed on each prescription form. Since 78% of the elderly population live alone or with a spouse, and only 15% live with other relatives who may have children, the majority of prescriptions for elderly patients could be dispensed in non-child-resistant containers. Therefore, the phrase 'DISPENSE IN CHILD-RESISTANT CONTAINER YES/NO' should be added to the prescription form.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1292-1293 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | New York State Journal of Medicine |
| Volume | 78 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| State | Published - 1978 |
| Externally published | Yes |