Patients' Perspective of Medication Safety in a Structurally Burdened Healthcare System: A Netnography-Based...

Area of Science:

• Patient safety research
• Qualitative health research
• Sociology of health

Background:

• Medication-related harm is a significant global patient safety issue.
• Patient perspectives on medication safety are underexplored in Central and Eastern European healthcare systems.
• Structural constraints in these systems impact daily medication use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Hungarian patients' lived experiences of medication safety.
• To analyze online narratives for insights into patient-centered medication safety concerns.
• To identify modifiable behavioral determinants influencing medication safety.

Main Methods:

• In-depth qualitative analysis of 5174 Hungarian online comments (August 2020 - August 2023).
• Grounded theory-informed principles and a patient-centered medication safety framework were applied.
• The COM-B model was used to map findings onto behavioral determinants.

Main Results:

• Dominant concerns include access to services (long waits, limited rural emergency care, brief consultations) and communication gaps (insufficient information, conflicting advice).
• These issues led to delayed treatment, eroded trust, and treatment discontinuation.
• Community pharmacists were largely absent from patients' care models, despite their accessibility.

Conclusions:

• Clear, respectful communication and timely access to care are paramount for patient-centered medication safety.
• Netnography and grounded theory provide valuable methods for capturing patient experiences in structurally challenged healthcare systems.
• Findings offer insights relevant beyond the Hungarian context for improving medication safety.