Guidance by physicians and pharmacists during antidepressant therapy: Patients' needs and suggestions for improvement

Mariёtte Nederlof; Daniёlle C Cath; Lennart J Stoker; Toine C G Egberts; Eibert R Heerdink

doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1522-9

Guidance by physicians and pharmacists during antidepressant therapy: Patients' needs and suggestions for improvement

Mariёtte Nederlof
, Daniёlle C Cath
, Lennart J Stoker
, Toine C G Egberts
, Eibert R Heerdink

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Guidance of patients treated with antidepressants is paramount for successful therapy. The aim was to assess patients' needs and suggestions for improvement of guidance by physicians and pharmacists during second generation antidepressant (SGA) therapy.METHODS: Five focus group discussions were held with a total of 34 patients using an SGA. The discussions were conducted flexibly and responsively using a semi-structured topic list. All focus group discussions were video-recorded and transcripts were analyzed using ATLAS.ti for coding, thematic and open analysis.RESULTS: Participants stated they were in need of better guidance. They suggested improving content of information during decisional moments, patient-health care professional communication and communication between health care professionals, and finally, organization of guidance. Barriers to achieving improved guidance were cited.CONCLUSIONS: Content, communication and organization of guidance are pivotal for achieving optimal guidance. Participants mentioned their current experienced guidance had limitations and brought up solutions for improvement. A next step would be to discuss the suggested solutions with health care professionals to assess their views and to discuss the possibility for implementation. After implementation, future studies could be aimed at determination of its impact on patients' treatment efficacy, quality of life, treatment satisfaction and healthcare costs.

Original language	English
Article number	388
Journal	BMC Psychiatry
Volume	17
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1522-9
Publication status	Published - 4 Dec 2017

Keywords

Antidepressiva agents
Counseling
Focus groups
Patient satisfaction
Professional role
Qualitative research
Second-generation

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10.1186/s12888-017-1522-9Licence: CC BY

s12888-017-1522-9Final published version, 508 KBLicence: CC BY

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title = "Guidance by physicians and pharmacists during antidepressant therapy: Patients' needs and suggestions for improvement",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Guidance of patients treated with antidepressants is paramount for successful therapy. The aim was to assess patients' needs and suggestions for improvement of guidance by physicians and pharmacists during second generation antidepressant (SGA) therapy.METHODS: Five focus group discussions were held with a total of 34 patients using an SGA. The discussions were conducted flexibly and responsively using a semi-structured topic list. All focus group discussions were video-recorded and transcripts were analyzed using ATLAS.ti for coding, thematic and open analysis.RESULTS: Participants stated they were in need of better guidance. They suggested improving content of information during decisional moments, patient-health care professional communication and communication between health care professionals, and finally, organization of guidance. Barriers to achieving improved guidance were cited.CONCLUSIONS: Content, communication and organization of guidance are pivotal for achieving optimal guidance. Participants mentioned their current experienced guidance had limitations and brought up solutions for improvement. A next step would be to discuss the suggested solutions with health care professionals to assess their views and to discuss the possibility for implementation. After implementation, future studies could be aimed at determination of its impact on patients' treatment efficacy, quality of life, treatment satisfaction and healthcare costs.",

keywords = "Antidepressiva agents, Counseling, Focus groups, Patient satisfaction, Professional role, Qualitative research, Second-generation",

author = "Mariёtte Nederlof and Cath, \{Daniёlle C\} and Stoker, \{Lennart J\} and Egberts, \{Toine C G\} and Heerdink, \{Eibert R\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 The Author(s).",

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doi = "10.1186/s12888-017-1522-9",

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AU - Nederlof, Mariёtte

AU - Cath, Daniёlle C

AU - Stoker, Lennart J

AU - Egberts, Toine C G

AU - Heerdink, Eibert R

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N2 - BACKGROUND: Guidance of patients treated with antidepressants is paramount for successful therapy. The aim was to assess patients' needs and suggestions for improvement of guidance by physicians and pharmacists during second generation antidepressant (SGA) therapy.METHODS: Five focus group discussions were held with a total of 34 patients using an SGA. The discussions were conducted flexibly and responsively using a semi-structured topic list. All focus group discussions were video-recorded and transcripts were analyzed using ATLAS.ti for coding, thematic and open analysis.RESULTS: Participants stated they were in need of better guidance. They suggested improving content of information during decisional moments, patient-health care professional communication and communication between health care professionals, and finally, organization of guidance. Barriers to achieving improved guidance were cited.CONCLUSIONS: Content, communication and organization of guidance are pivotal for achieving optimal guidance. Participants mentioned their current experienced guidance had limitations and brought up solutions for improvement. A next step would be to discuss the suggested solutions with health care professionals to assess their views and to discuss the possibility for implementation. After implementation, future studies could be aimed at determination of its impact on patients' treatment efficacy, quality of life, treatment satisfaction and healthcare costs.

AB - BACKGROUND: Guidance of patients treated with antidepressants is paramount for successful therapy. The aim was to assess patients' needs and suggestions for improvement of guidance by physicians and pharmacists during second generation antidepressant (SGA) therapy.METHODS: Five focus group discussions were held with a total of 34 patients using an SGA. The discussions were conducted flexibly and responsively using a semi-structured topic list. All focus group discussions were video-recorded and transcripts were analyzed using ATLAS.ti for coding, thematic and open analysis.RESULTS: Participants stated they were in need of better guidance. They suggested improving content of information during decisional moments, patient-health care professional communication and communication between health care professionals, and finally, organization of guidance. Barriers to achieving improved guidance were cited.CONCLUSIONS: Content, communication and organization of guidance are pivotal for achieving optimal guidance. Participants mentioned their current experienced guidance had limitations and brought up solutions for improvement. A next step would be to discuss the suggested solutions with health care professionals to assess their views and to discuss the possibility for implementation. After implementation, future studies could be aimed at determination of its impact on patients' treatment efficacy, quality of life, treatment satisfaction and healthcare costs.

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KW - Counseling

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KW - Patient satisfaction

KW - Professional role

KW - Qualitative research

KW - Second-generation

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JO - BMC Psychiatry

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ER -

Guidance by physicians and pharmacists during antidepressant therapy: Patients' needs and suggestions for improvement

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