PurposeTo explore factors which facilitate and negatively impact adherence, at initiation, implementation and discontinuation phases of adherence to antidepressant medicines.Patients and methodsSemi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with patients suffering from unipolar depression. The digitally audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim were used. Transcripts were thematically content analyzed and data managed using N-Vivo software.ResultsTwenty-three interviews were conducted. The predominant factors facilitating initiation of therapy included self-motivation and severity of depression. Factors aiding persistence with therapy included belief in, and effectiveness of, antidepressants. Stigma and fear of adverse events inhibited initiation of therapy, whilst adverse events and ineffectiveness of antidepressants contributed to discontinuation. Patients with strong perceptions of the necessity and few concerns about antidepressants were more likely to adhere to treatment at all phases of adherence.ConclusionDifferent factors influence medication adherence at the different phases of adherence. These factors were based on individual perceptions about depression and its treatment, and actual experiences of antidepressant treatment. This information should be considered by health care professionals in delivering targeted and tailored interventions to foster adherence. Strategies to address medication non-adherence in unipolar depression patients should consider the phase of adherence and individual perceptions about depression and its treatment, along with previous experiences with treatment for depression.
The results of the survey show that clinical pharmacy services are established to very different extents among the participating countries. The strong correlation suggests that achieving a successful transition in professional practice needs to address several aspects of education and research to reach progress. The collected data might help to identify potential areas of improvement to foster implementation of clinical pharmacy services. .
The rapidly emerging COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the need for rapid and extensive changes in the education programs of universities. This chapter reviews the changes in teaching and learning made by pharmaceutical faculties in six universities located in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Mahasarakham University (Thailand), Taylor's University (Malaysia), University of the Philippines-Manilla (Philippines), Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Vietnam), University of Health Sciences (Lao PDR), and Sanata Dharma University (Indonesia). The authors discuss adjustments that were made based on educational contexts, planning and infrastructure, educational processes, and products and outcomes. Each university provides a specific story concerning lessons learned in responding to the pandemic. The chapter concludes with changes that will be employed in future emergency situations, as well as those that will continue to be incorporated with the resumption of normal operations.
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