Medication Decision-making and Management: a Client-centered Model

Although the traditional medical model dominates how 'provider-patient' roles are viewed, research has documented that client medication behavior strongly influences health outcomes, health care utilization, and ultimately health care costs. This paper explores the position that medication management outcomes can be improved by adopting more client-centered approaches. To examine the implications of a client-centered relationship this paper reviews research regarding client involvement in: (1) identifying treatment goals; (2) choosing from regimen options; (3) monitoring symptoms and evaluating regiments; and (4) self care with nonprescription pharmaceutical products. Based on this literature review, a collaborative client-centered model of medication consultation is examined, and implications for health care provider roles and public policy in pharmaceutical care are discussed.