Redispensing of medicines unused by patients: a qualitative study among stakeholders

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• 作者：Charlotte L. Bekker ; Helga Gardarsdottir…
• 关键词：Medication waste ; Qualitative research ; Redispensing ; Stakeholders ; The Netherlands ; Unused medicines
• 刊名：International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：February 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：39
• 期：1
• 页码：196-204
• 全文大小：
• 刊物类别：Medicine
• 刊物主题：Internal Medicine; Pharmacy;
• 出版者：Springer International Publishing
• ISSN：2210-7711
• 卷排序：39

文摘

Background Medication waste has undesirable economic and environmental consequences. This waste is partly unavoidable, but might be reduced by redispensing medicines unused by patients. However, there is little knowledge of stakeholders’ views on the redispensing. Objective To identify the stakeholders’ views on the redispensing of medicines unused by patients. Setting Dutch healthcare system. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 Dutch stakeholders from September 2014 until April 2015. The interview guide included two themes: medication waste and redispensing of unused medicines. The latter included qualitative-, legal- and financial aspects and stakeholder involvement, with specific attention to the patient. Interview transcripts were subjected to thematic content analysis. Main outcome measure Requirements related to the redispensing of unused medicines. Results All stakeholders considered the redispensing of medicines desirable if the implementation is feasible and the requirements for the safe redispensing are met. All of them pointed out that the product quality of redispensed medicines should be guaranteed and that it should be clear who is responsible for the quality of redispensed medicines. The stakeholders stated that transparent communication to patients is essential to guarantee trust in the redispensing system and that patients should be willing to use redispensed medicines. Moreover, the redispensing system’s benefits should outweigh the costs and a minimal economic value of medicines suitable for redispensing should be determined. Conclusion Redispensing unused medicines could decrease medication waste if several requirements are met. For successful implementation of a redispensing system, all relevant stakeholders should be involved and cooperate as a joint-force.