Patient Preference and Adherence (Sep 2024)
Patient Participation in Medication Safety for Noncommunicable Diseases: A Qualitative Study of General Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Outpatients’ Perspectives in Beijing
Abstract
Zhengwen Feng,1 Hui Li,1 Xiaolei Chen,1 Tiancheng Zhang,2 Yanxiang Chen,3 Shuang Shao,1,* Juan Du1,* 1School of General Practice and Continuing Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of General Practice, Dahongmen Community Health Service Center, Beijing, Fengtai District, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of general practice, Changying Community Health Service Center, Beijing, Chaoyang District, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Juan Du; Shuang Shao, School of General Practice and Continuing Education, Capital Medical University, 10 You’ Anmen Outer West 1 st Street, Beijing, 100069, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Our study aimed to explore the current status of patient participation in medication safety from the perspectives of general practitioners (GPs), pharmacists, and outpatients in Beijing, China.Patients and Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth individual interviews with GPs, pharmacists, and outpatients. Subjects were identified by purposive sampling until code saturation. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with GPs, pharmacists, and patients from community health service centers in three urban districts of Beijing, China. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and the text was analysed using thematic analysis techniques including familiarising with data, generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and producing the report.Results: A total of eight GPs, seven pharmacists, and 18 outpatients were interviewed. Data analysis led to the generation of five key themes: (1) mutual trust between patient and GP, (2) communication with healthcare professionals, (3) acquisition of knowledge about medication safety, (4) implementation of medication self-management at home, and (5) different attitudes toward participation in medication decisions. Patients participated in medication safety in multiple ways. However, insufficient knowledge about medication safety, lack of awareness of the patient’s role in ensuring medication safety, shortage of consultation lengths, and being misled by some information were problems with patient participation in medication safety.Conclusion: This exploratory study contributes to our initial understanding of patient participation in medication safety. There were still many issues and barriers in the process of patient participation. Appropriate policies and measures, such as providing various forms of patient education, ensuring sufficient physician-patient communication, giving full play to the role of pharmacists, and making judicious use of digital health tools should be taken to improve medication safety by fully utilising the role of patients.Plain Language Summary: Medication safety is a significant concern around the world. Patient participation in the medication process is effective in reducing the incidence of medication errors and improving medication safety. However, the role of outpatients with chronic conditions in ensuring medication safety is often neglected. This study aims to explore the perspectives and experiences of GPs, pharmacists, and outpatients by qualitative interviews in Beijing, China. The study involved a series of interviews with eight GPs, seven pharmacists, and 18 outpatients living with noncommunicable diseases. The interview revealed five themes: (1) mutual trust between patient and GP, (2) communication with healthcare professionals, (3) acquisition of knowledge about medication safety, (4) implementation of medication self-management at home, and (5) different attitudes toward participation in medication decisions. The findings might help propose suggestions for patient participation in medication safety. Integrating these findings into future studies can help healthcare professionals formulate interventions and better support patients in participating in the medication process.Keywords: medication safety, patient participation, patient safety, qualitative study, noncommunicable disease, community health service centers
