Medication Discrepancy in the Hospital-to-Home Transition Period of Elderly Chinese Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the factors influencing medication discrepancies in elderly patients with coronary heart disease during the hospital-to-home transition through qualitative interviews. Methods: This study used a descriptive qualitative research design. Purposive sampling was employed. Between March and September 2025, we conducted face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with sixteen elderly patients with coronary heart disease who had experienced medication discrepancies within one week after hospital discharge. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and subjected to content analysis guided by the Health Ecology Model. Results: Five themes and twelve subthemes were identified: 1) Personal Characteristics, 2) Behavioral Characteristics, 3) Interpersonal Networks, 4) Living and Working Conditions, and 5) Policy Conditions. Conclusion: Elderly patients with coronary heart disease face challenges with medication discrepancies during the hospital-to-home transition period, influenced by factors at the individual, interpersonal, community, and policy levels. Future research should focus on this critical and vulnerable phase to develop personalized interventions for this population. Strategies such as the teach-back method and encouraging patient involvement in medication decision-making may help improve medication safety.