Medication experience of aged patients and their family caregivers during transitions of care: a qualitative meta-synthesis

Abstract

Purpose: As the population ages, the number of elderly patients with chronic diseases increases. It is crucial to focus on the medication experience of elderly patients and their family caregivers during transitions of care (TOC) to improve prognosis and ensure medication safety. However, existing evidence mainly focuses on communication experiences of medication management during this period, which constitutes only part of the overall medication experience. This study aims to systematically review qualitative research exploring the medication experience of elderly patients and caregivers during TOC and provide insights for enhancing their medication experience and ensuring safety during this critical time. Methods: We followed ENTREQ and PRISMA to guide this study. Seven electronic databases (CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were systematically searched for studies published up to April 2025, to include qualitative data regarding the medication experiences of elderly patients and their family caregivers during the TOC period. The data were analyzed using thematic synthesis to systematically synthesize the qualitative evidence. Results: In the initial phase, 3,336 studies were screened, with 13 studies ultimately meeting the inclusion criteria: 12 qualitative studies and 1 mixed-methods study. Four main themes emerged: multidimensional experience of medication continuity disruption during TOC, experience of participation in decision-making about medication, experience of communication and information barriers, and experience of multidimensional strategies to improve patient and family caregiver-centered medication. Conclusion: Gaps and fragmentation in the transformation of medication information frequently occurred during the TOC period, leading to a negative medication experience for elderly patients and their caregivers. Healthcare providers should pay close attention to the impact of the care transition period on this group's medication experience, adapting 'patient and family caregiver-centered' diversified adjustment strategies to help them navigate this period safely and smoothly.