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Patients’ Understanding and Management of their Illnesses and Prescribed Medicines – A Descriptive Study

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 August 2005

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore patients’ understanding and management of their illnesses and prescribed medicines.

Method: Patients receiving three or more repeat prescription drugs were interviewed in their homes after their repeat prescriptions had drug-related problem (DRP) identified by a community pharmacist in a GP surgery.

Results: In total, 58 patients were interviewed. Patients distinguished strongly between ‘forgetting’ and ‘taking less’ of their medicines, and some actively reduced the dose themselves. More than 25% of the patients involved their spouse in the administration of their medicines. Patients had more worries about their illness (48%) than their medicines (31%). Any changes made to their present medication, or introduction of new medicines, were thought to ‘upset the balance’.

Conclusion: More information is needed on patients’ perspectives, both on side effects, compliance and how to deal with long-term medication. Health care professionals should seek to understand and respect patients’ choices to assure optimal care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacy Practice Research (Apoforsk) , Kalfarveien 31, 5018, Bergen, Norway

    Anne G. Granås

  2. Department of Practice and Policy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, England

    Ian Bates

Authors
  1. Anne G. Granås
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  2. Ian Bates
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne G. Granås.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11096-005-6872-6

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Granås, A.G., Bates, I. Patients’ Understanding and Management of their Illnesses and Prescribed Medicines – A Descriptive Study. Pharm World Sci 27, 321–328 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-005-5999-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-005-5999-9

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