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Patients' experiences with multidose drug dispensing: a cross sectional study
Bram J Mertens1,2, Henk-Frans Kwint3, Rob J van Marum4,5
1Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. b.mertens@apotheekstevenshof.nl.
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
|November 28, 2018
Summary
Patients using automated multidose drug dispensing systems report high satisfaction and improved medication management. Key benefits include better adherence and convenience, though minor improvements in packaging and text legibility are suggested.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy practice
- Patient medication management
- Health technology assessment
Background:
- Automated multidose drug dispensing (MDD) systems are widely adopted for patient medication management.
- Limited research exists on patient experiences with MDD systems, particularly regarding initiation and ongoing use.
- Understanding patient perspectives is crucial for optimizing MDD system implementation and effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore patients' experiences with the initiation of automated multidose drug dispensing systems.
- To identify the perceived advantages and disadvantages of using multidose drug dispensing systems from the patient's viewpoint.
Main Methods:
- A qualitative survey employing semi-structured interviews was conducted with patients utilizing MDD systems across three community pharmacies.
- The interview protocol was developed based on existing literature and a pilot study to ensure comprehensive data collection.
- Data focused on patient involvement in system initiation and their reported benefits and drawbacks.
Main Results:
- The initiation of MDD was discussed with 76% of surveyed patients, indicating good patient involvement.
- A significant 90% of patients found that the MDD system supported their medication management.
- Reported advantages included improved medication adherence and safety (59%) and enhanced patient convenience (40%).
Conclusions:
- Patients are generally involved in the decision-making process for initiating MDD, aligning with Dutch guidelines.
- The majority of patients express high satisfaction with MDD systems, citing numerous benefits for medication management.
- System improvements could focus on simplifying bag opening mechanisms and enhancing the legibility of printed text on packaging.
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