POS0072-PARE IMPACT OF MEDICINE SUPPLY PROBLEMS ON PEOPLE WITH AN RMD AND THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION
Authors: P. Borsje, P. Pennings, B. Meijer, M. Weijers, I. Hest, T. Foekens, G. Willemsen- de Mey
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> People who take medication are increasingly experiencing medicine supply problems. A forced medicine switch may be the result, which can have quite an impact. Moreover, a person does not always respond well to an alternative. Medicine supply problems could also result into someone having to wait for their medicine, leaving this person without their medication. This can also be the case for people with a Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Disease (RMD). Researching the effect of medicine supply problems on people with an RMD could provide insight into the extent of this problem and what people need in order to reduce this impact. Insights that are valuable for our patient organization, the National Association ReumaZorg Nederland (RZN). Also, researching how pharmacies communicate about medicine supply problems from the perspective of people with an RMD, could clarify which measures should be taken to enhance the information provision. Measures from pharmacists but also from RZN. This could lead to people with an RMD suffering less from medicine supply problems, subsequently improving their health. <h3>Objectives:</h3> To investigate the impact of medicine supply problems on people with an RMD, how pharmacies communicate about these problems and to find out how people with an RMD think this communication could be improved. <h3>Methods:</h3> The first step was to conduct a literature review of medicine supply problems in the Netherlands from 2019 until 2022. This helped to identify not only the scope of the problem, but also its consequences, causes and possible solutions. Using the literature review, an online focus group was organized to explore the experiences of people with an RMD (N=6). The results of the focus group helped to develop a questionnaire about the frequency and impact of medicine supply problems on people with an RMD, as well as the communication regarding these problems in the pharmacy, and possible solutions. The questionnaire was distributed on the website and social media channels of RZN. Two patient research partners of RZN were involved in the advisory group throughout the entire project. <h3>Results:</h3> A total of 68 people (88% female) completed the questionnaire. Their mean age was 57 years and 81% of the respondents had been diagnosed with an RMD for 5 years or longer. Most of the respondents suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis (50%), Osteoarthritis (46%), and Fibromyalgia (24%). The personal consequences for people with an RMD who encounter a medicine supply problem are twofold: <b>Emotions</b> (frustration, disappointment, uncertainty) <b>Consequences of a forced medicine switch</b> (getting used to the new medicine, side effects, lesser effect of the medicine) It could be that the emotional consequences of a forced switch influence the experienced side effects and the effects of the medicine. Regarding the communication in the pharmacy, most respondents would like to receive information about the duration of the problem, the possibilities to obtain their own medicine, and the reason of the problem, as can be seen in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows that almost all participants want to receive information about a problem with the supply of their medicine verbally. The results of the questionnaire were presented in a webinar organized by RZN and a pharmacist from the Dutch Association of Young Pharmacists (VJA). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> The pharmacy's communication towards people with an RMD in case of a medicine supply problem could be improved: <b>Communicate</b> clearly what the <b>reason</b> of the supply problem is, the <b>expected duration</b> of the problem and the possible (other) <b>side effects</b> that can occur due to a forced medicine switch. <b>Communicate</b> preferably <b>verbally</b> about the supply problem Improving the communication regarding medicine supply problems could reduce the impact it has on people with an RMD. RZN and the VJA are currently looking at ways to improve this communication. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> A special word of gratitude goes out to the patient research partners who contributed to the patient perspective in this project by either being part of the working group or by sharing their perspectives in the focus group. Our gratitude also goes out to the Dutch Association of Young Pharmacists (VJA) for presenting their point of view during our webinar. <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> <b>None declared.</b>