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Drug information sources and antidepressant adherence
Betsy Sleath1, Keele Wurst, Tim Lowery
1School of Pharmacy, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7360, USA. betsy_sleath@unc.edu
Community Mental Health Journal
|August 12, 2003
Summary
Patients who gathered antidepressant information from multiple sources showed better adherence. Conversely, experiencing more side effects was linked to lower antidepressant adherence.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Patient Adherence Research
- Health Communication
Background:
- Antidepressant adherence is crucial for treatment efficacy.
- Understanding information sources can improve patient outcomes.
- Patient-reported data offers unique insights into adherence factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between patient sources of antidepressant information and antidepressant adherence.
- To identify key information providers influencing antidepressant adherence.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 81 English-speaking patients at community pharmacies in North Carolina.
- Data collection through interviews regarding antidepressant information sources and adherence.
- Analysis of patient-reported side effects and adherence levels.
Main Results:
- Pharmacists (58%), primary care physicians (50.6%), and mental health specialists (40.7%) were primary information sources.
- Patients receiving information from more sources demonstrated significantly higher antidepressant adherence.
- Increased side effects correlated with significantly lower antidepressant adherence.
Conclusions:
- Diversifying sources of antidepressant information may enhance patient adherence.
- Addressing side effects is critical for maintaining antidepressant adherence.
- Community pharmacies play a vital role in disseminating antidepressant information.