Abstract
A medication notebook was prepared by the Yamagata Pharmaceutical Association in cooperation with the Hospital Pharmacy Association, Medical Association and Dental Association, and distributed to registered health insurance pharmacies and medical institutions, including those operated by individual medical practitioners, for the purpose of sharing pharmaceutical information on patients in Yamagata Prefecture. In addition, a questionnaire concerning the usage rate of the medication notebook and its usefulness was sent to the 411 health insurance pharmacies registered with the Yamagata Pharmaceutical Association. Responses were obtained from 192 pharmacies (response rate 46.7%). More than 40% of these pharmacies had distributed the Yamagata Pharmacy Association medication notebook to patients. Through the use of the medication notebooks, patients were able to avoid duplication of medication and drug interactions. It was therefore useful in promoting the proper use of medicines by patients. Among pharmacies staffed by only one pharmacist, a large number had not given out the medication notebook to patients, but there were also many that were using it effectively. Pharmacies that used the medication notebook more frequently had higher rates for avoiding the improper use of medication. It is thus necessary to further educate pharmacists on the value of using the medication notebook in promoting the proper use of medicines, since this will help to avoid duplicated prescriptions, drug interactions and adverse effects in patients.
