A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension Undergoing Polypharmacy

Aims/Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe progressive disease characterized by elevated blood pressure in the lungs. Medications are a critical form of treatment for patients with PH. This study aims to explore the experiences of patients with PH undergoing polypharmacy, thereby providing a more concrete foundation for formulating targeted intervention measures. Methods A purposive sampling method was used to select 13 PH patients treated in a grade III hospital in Zhejiang Province from December 2023 to February 2024 as the research subjects. This study is a descriptive qualitative research design, where the patients were interviewed face-to-face in a semi-structured manner. The data were analyzed, summarized and extracted using the traditional content analysis method. Results There were five themes and ten sub-themes surrounding the polypharmacy experiences of the PH patients: (1) Negative emotional experience of multidrug use, including lack of disease-related medication knowledge and insufficient ability to obtain medication information; (2) Complex physical testing of multiple drugs, including adverse reactions and complex dose titration; (3) Economic burden; (4) Coping difficulties, including insufficient drug safety, excessive reliance on medical personnel, and lack of opportunities for deep participation; (5) Desire for supports, including professional and social support, as well as those from family, colleagues and classmates. Conclusion Disease, treatment, psychological factors, and social customs affect PH patients' drug use post-diagnosis, with varying experiences and degrees. Healthcare providers must offer tailored care and practical strategies for managing multiple drug use, considering patients' unique experiences and needs.