Education for medications and side effects: a two part mechanism for improving the patient experience.

Aim: A nursing study aimed to increase patient understanding of new medications and their side effects, and positively impact Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey scores for medications communication.

Background: Hospital patients' understanding of new medications and side effects is a major satisfaction indicator when formal surveys serve as quality measures. Medical/surgical unit survey scores at a 328-bed Texas hospital were below average.