Gemeinschaftsmedizin und Gesundheitserziehung

Abstrakt

Patients Perspectives on Automated Multi-dose Drug Dispensing

Bardage C and Ring L

Background: More studies on automated multi-dose drug dispensing (ADD) are needed to ensure the quality of drug treatment among those receiving their medicines packed in sachets.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess preferences and experiences among patients’, who handle their medicines themselves without assistance from primary care in relation to drugs being automated dispensed in sachets in an outpatient community care setting.

Methods: A sample of every sixth municipality was drawn from the sampling frame of all Swedish municipalities, resulting in 40 (14%) municipalities. A total of 4,655 questionnaires were distributed through the pharmacies that distributed ADD in the selected municipalities. The data were collected during September and October 2012.

Results: The response rate was 33%. Sixty-four percent of the respondents were 65 years or older. The patients reported that ADD helps them to correct dosing, to recognize the medicine, and allows them to become more involved in decisions about treatment. Nineteen percent, however, found it confusing to have medicines in both sachets and in manufacturers´ packaging. More than one-third of the patients reported that generic substitution made it more difficult to identify the various medicines available in the sachets. Forty percent of the patient called for better information about the purpose and goal of their treatment, and 25% called for better information on changes in their drug treatment. They also asked for information focusing on which pills are which, preferably with pictures and a written description.

Conclusion: In general, the patients expressed that they were satisfied and felt secure with ADDs, but called for better information about the purpose and goal of their treatment and treatment related changes. Adherence and safety issues, as well as, information about sachets contents need to be further looked into. Pick-up and delivery options of the sachets from the pharmacy and other distributors could be more individualized according to the users’ preferences.