Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the information needs and reported adherence of patients prescribed medicines for chronic conditions in those who have received a community pharmacy advanced service and those who have not.
Methods: A questionnaire was constructed using validated tools to measure medication information satisfaction and adherence together with questions eliciting information regarding the use of pharmacy services and demographic characteristics. This questionaire was distributed from four community pharmacies to a convenience sample of 400 patients as they collected their medicines. Patients were eligible if prescribed more than one regular medicine and attending the pharmacy for longer than three months. The questionnaire was returned directly to the university.
Key Findings: 232 (58%) questionnaires were returned. All respondents desired further information about their prescribed medicines, particularly about potential medication problems. Dissatisfaction centred on side effects, interactions and certain medicine characteristics such as how long it will take to act. Satisfaction with information about medicines and adherence were significantly greater in a subgroup reporting that they had received an advanced pharmacy service e.g. medicine use review.
Conclusion: Patients who had received an advanced service reported greater adherence and satisfaction with medicine related information. This was a small, observational study, using a convenience sample of four pharmacies; in order to draw definitive conclusions, a larger study with participants randomised to receive an advanced service is required.
Methods: A questionnaire was constructed using validated tools to measure medication information satisfaction and adherence together with questions eliciting information regarding the use of pharmacy services and demographic characteristics. This questionaire was distributed from four community pharmacies to a convenience sample of 400 patients as they collected their medicines. Patients were eligible if prescribed more than one regular medicine and attending the pharmacy for longer than three months. The questionnaire was returned directly to the university.
Key Findings: 232 (58%) questionnaires were returned. All respondents desired further information about their prescribed medicines, particularly about potential medication problems. Dissatisfaction centred on side effects, interactions and certain medicine characteristics such as how long it will take to act. Satisfaction with information about medicines and adherence were significantly greater in a subgroup reporting that they had received an advanced pharmacy service e.g. medicine use review.
Conclusion: Patients who had received an advanced service reported greater adherence and satisfaction with medicine related information. This was a small, observational study, using a convenience sample of four pharmacies; in order to draw definitive conclusions, a larger study with participants randomised to receive an advanced service is required.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 229-236 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | International Journal of Pharmacy Practice |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 15 Feb 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2016 |
Keywords
- adherence
- chronic medication
- community pharmacy
- lay perspectives
- medicines management
- patient behaviour
- Patient Satisfaction
Profiles
-
Debi Bhattacharya
- School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology - Honorary Professor
- Patient Care - Member
Person: Honorary, Research Group Member
-
Allan Clark
- Norwich Medical School - Associate Professor
- Population Health - Member
- Epidemiology and Public Health - Member
- Health Services and Primary Care - Member
- Norwich Clinical Trials Unit - Member
Person: Research Group Member, Research Centre Member, Academic, Teaching & Research