Polymedication-Check With Insight in Patients' Medication Organisation and Comprehension of Generics

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
Patients using multiple drugs including generics have found different solutions to manage their medication. During a Polymedication-Check (medication review type 2a service in community pharmacies) additional information about the organisation of patients' medication in daily life will be compiled in Swiss community pharmacies. Data will allow to better address patients' needs in their medication organisation and comprehension of generics.

Official Title
-----------------
Polymedikations-Check Und Medikamenten-Organisation im Alltag

Conditions
-----------------
Medication Therapy Management, Medication Adherence

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Assessment


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: at least 4 medicines for at least 3 months at least 1 generic drug at least 1 medicine of ATC code cardiovascular system (C01-10) Exclusion Criteria: medication provided in Multicompartment Compliance Aid or similar device by specific service (pharmacy, elderly home, home care)

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Behavioral: Assessment|Assessment of patients' medication organisation and comprehension of generics|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Insight in patients' organisation of polymedication | Patients organise their multiple medications differently in daily life. The study will investigate the different organisation strategies to get a better understanding of patients' behaviour. The behaviour is assessed with a questionnaire containing 14 questions on the management of medication including single choice, multiple choice and free text questions. As example the number of patients already using a medication organisation system will be assessed, the number of patients using a weekly or daily pillbox will be assessed, and who is filling the medication organisation system. | retrospective 3 months | 
| Insight in patients' comprehension of generics | Patients have a different comprehension of generics including their advantages and disadvantages. The study will investigate patients' comprehension of generics to get a better understanding of patients' behaviour. The comprehension is assessed with a questionnaire containing 4 questions on the believes about generics including single choice, multiple choice and free text questions. As example the number of patients knowing that they use generics is assessed and the patient's personal opinion on advantages and disadvantages of generics is investigated. | retrospective 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of patients using Multicompartment Compliance Aids. | Assessment of proportion of patients already using Multicompartment Compliance Aids prior to interview. | retrospective 3 months | 
| Number of substitutable medicines. | Assessment of number of brand name medication which could be substituted by generic medication and willingness of pharmacists to recommend generic medicines. | retrospective 3 months | 
| Swallowing difficulties | Prevalence of present and/or past swallowing difficulties and coping strategies will be assessed. A specific question (from SWAMECO) on the experienced swallowing difficulties is asked and will be answered on a visual analog scale (0 to 100%). If swallowing-difficulties are present, 2 more questions are asked: Which medication is difficult to swallow and how medication is altered in order to be able to swallow them. | retrospective 3 months | 
| Recommended use of Multicompartment Compliance Aids | Number of recommended use of Multicompartment Compliance Aids by pharmacists. | retrospective 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Drug Substitution, Multicompartment Compliance Aid