AIM: To identify how depression is managed in primary care settings and examine patients' perspectives on their care and the impact medication had on their recovery. This article specifically addresses patients' accounts of the influences on medication concordance. METHOD: A total of 60 patients from four primary care centres who had a recent episode of depression were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and a framework analysis to identify recurring themes. Participants had largely recovered from their illness. FINDINGS: Many factors influenced patients' decisions to take and continue prescribed antidepressants and four broad themes were identified. These were: the role and relationship with health practitioners; factors related to the illness; beliefs about and experiences of medication for depression; and the wider context of depression. CONCLUSION: Concordance with antidepressants is multifactorial and may change over time in the same patient. Influences on concordance may be positive or negative and the combined effects are highly individual and dependent on circumstances. Nurses involved in medication management should encourage discussion of the likely impact of, and patients' attitudes toward, medication.
AIM: To identify how depression is managed in primary care settings and examine patients' perspectives on their care and the impact medication had on their recovery. This article specifically addresses patients' accounts of the influences on medication concordance. METHOD: A total of 60 patients from four primary care centres who had a recent episode of depression were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and a framework analysis to identify recurring themes. Participants had largely recovered from their illness. FINDINGS: Many factors influenced patients' decisions to take and continue prescribed antidepressants and four broad themes were identified. These were: the role and relationship with health practitioners; factors related to the illness; beliefs about and experiences of medication for depression; and the wider context of depression. CONCLUSION: Concordance with antidepressants is multifactorial and may change over time in the same patient. Influences on concordance may be positive or negative and the combined effects are highly individual and dependent on circumstances. Nurses involved in medication management should encourage discussion of the likely impact of, and patients' attitudes toward, medication.
Authors: Sabrina Anne Jacob; Zhi Jean Wong; Wing Loong Cheong; Elizabeth Yie-Chuen Chong; Yin Xuan Wong; Sara Lai Heong Lew Journal: Int J Clin Pharm Date: 2021-07-27