A Quantitative Study Exploring and Comparing Key Factors in Medication Management in the Irish Healthcare Setting

Shared decision-making in the context of medication management has been shown to be contingent on information-seeking behaviours such as patient knowledge, self-efficacy and engagement.

The aim of this study was to: (i) compare differences in perceptions of patients' knowledge, capabilities and engagement across healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients and family caregivers and (ii) investigate associations between these factors and patients' medication beliefs using a cross-sectional survey study of patients, family caregivers and community and hospital HCPs in Ireland.

Two cross-sectional surveys measuring key factors in medication management were distributed to patients and family caregivers taking three or more medicines and HCPs involved in medicines management. χ² tests were used to investigate differences between HCPs and patients and family caregivers. Multivariable linear regression with adjustment for the socio-demographic covariates was used to examine key factors in medication management and beliefs about medicine (BMQ-General) in patients and family caregivers.

Overall, 636 responses were received; patients and family caregivers (N = 134, 21%), community (N = 313, 49%) and hospital HCPs (N = 189, 30%). A higher proportion of patients and family caregivers self-reported as 'knowledgeable' about medications (N = 76; 56.7%) than community (N = 75, 24%) and hospital HCPs (N = 44, 23.3%) (p < 0.01). The majority of patients and family caregivers were 'fairly/very confident' they could maintain an accurate medication list without assistance (N = 78; 58.2%), compared to the majority of the community (N = 213, 68.1%) and hospital HCPs (N = 114, 60.3%) who were 'not at all/somewhat confident' (p < 0.01.) These patients and family caregivers also had significantly lower overall beliefs in medication harm (β = -1.23, 95% CI: -2.34, -0.13). Patient and family caregivers who asked HCPs about their medication frequently (> 7 times per year) had higher overall beliefs in medication overuse (β = 1.88, 95% CI: 0.06, 3.69) and medication harm (β = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.10, 4.20), compared to those who never asked.

There was divergence between HCPs and patients and family caregivers in their assessments of patients' medication knowledge and capabilities. Engagement between HCPs and patients around medication should be purposeful rather than frequent, to alleviate fears about overuse and harm.

The patient and family caregiver survey was developed in partnership with members of the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group. Feedback was provided by the group to increase accessibility of survey and maximise distribution. In addition, the survey was piloted among members of the public involved in medication management.