Which option best supports a patient’s medication adherence at discharge?

• A. Send automated e-mail reminders for medication administration.
• B. Ask the client to complete an online medication schedule.
• C. Provide printed discharge medication list.
• D. Offer online tutorials regarding medication management.

Answer: (B)

Engaging the patient to actively plan their regimen at discharge improves adherence because it turns instructions into a concrete, personalized routine they helped create. When the patient completes an online medication schedule, they specify exact dosages, times, and how to take each medication, which enhances understanding and memory. It also creates a shareable plan that can be reviewed with the care team, printed if needed, and referenced after discharge, supporting safer transitions of care.

A printed discharge medication list is valuable for reference, but it remains passive information and may not translate into a practical daily routine. Online tutorials offer education, yet they don’t automatically result in a usable, patient-owned schedule. Automated e-mail reminders rely on external systems and access after discharge, and they don’t ensure the patient has understood or internalized a plan. Therefore, having the patient complete an online medication schedule best supports sustained adherence.