Risk perception about medication sharing among patients: a focus group qualitative study on borrowing and lending of prescription analgesics

Abstract

BackgroundOne form of self-medication is sharing of medications, defined as borrowing or lending medications in situations where the receiver of these drugs is not the individual to whom the medications were allocated.ObjectiveTo explore experiences and opinions of patients about sharing prescription analgesics, reasons for sharing prescription analgesics, the way in which patients choose to share those medications, their awareness of risk regarding sharing prescription analgesics, and how they estimated the potential risk.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted by focus group discussions with 40 participants led by a moderator trained in focus group methodology using a semi-structured moderator guide. Adults aged ≥18 years who had received a prescription for an analgesic at least once in a lifetime were included. Six separate focus groups were conducted to discuss participants’ perception of risks associated with sharing of prescription analgesics among patients. Additionally, participants filled out two questionnaires on demographic data, their own behavior regarding sharing analgesics, and their attitudes about risks associated with sharing prescription analgesics.ResultsIn a questionnaire, 55% of the participants indicated that they personally shared prescription analgesics, while subsequently in the focus group discussions, 76% confessed to such behavior. Participants recognized certain risks related to sharing of prescription analgesics, mentioned a number of reasons for engaging in such behavior, and indicated certain positive aspects of such behavior. Forty-five percent of the participants indicated that sharing prescription analgesics is riskier than sharing nonprescription analgesics.ConclusionThere is a prevalent attitude among participants that sharing prescription analgesics is a positive behavior, where potential benefits outweigh risks.

‘Sharing may not be caring’ — Prescription medication sharing among adults in Saudi Arabia

“…Consistent with previous studies, painkillers, antibiotics and allergy medicine were the most frequently borrowed and lent medicines . This is possibly because, in Saudi Arabia, allergy medications and some pain medications are easily accessible and can be obtained either with or without a prescription over the counter (OTC).…”

Sharing of prescription analgesics amongst patients in family practice: Frequency and associated factors

“…immediate family, wider family, friends or acquaintances, colleagues from work, neighbours and other persons), while for the seventh answer, respondents could indicate any other person not mentioned in the first six choices. We believe that this might have contributed to a higher reported prevalence of prescription analgesic sharing because our previous qualitative study regarding this same subject showed that patients did not necessarily believe that sharing medication with immediate family was a problem, and even perceived prescription medications as a common property of a family (Markotic et al., ).…”

“…Negative aspects include delayed seeking of medical care, increased risk of side effects, health complications associated with incorrect medication or multiplied risk of developing resistance to medication (Goldsworthy and Mayhorn, ; Dimitrov et al., ; Beyene et al., ). Justifiable aspects of this behaviour, as described in literature, include situations where medical aid is unavailable, inconvenience associated with contacting a physician, saving money, lack of faith in physicians, helping patients cope with pain, accessibility of drugs in pharmacies, availability of medication provided by close individuals and maintaining good interpersonal relationships (Hodgetts et al., ; Kamutingondo et al., ; Beyene et al., ; Markotic and Puljak, ; Markotic et al., ). Nonrecreational sharing of medication is mostly motivated by the desire to help others or oneself (Kamutingondo et al., ; Markotic et al., ).…”

“…We considered prescription medication sharing as lending/giving or borrowing/taking of medication in circumstances where the user of these medications was not the individual to whom the drugs were intended (Daniel et al., ). The first of those two qualitative studies showed that patients often positively perceive sharing of prescription analgesics as a behaviour that would benefit other individuals (Markotic et al., ). Our second qualitative study, which was conducted amongst pain management physicians, showed that they frequently came across patients who shared prescription analgesics.…”

Anesthesia and perioperative pain management during cardiac electronic device implantation

“…It is also possible that the patients are self-medicating and sharing analgesics between themselves to alleviate pain. It is known that sharing of even prescription analgesics is a common behavior that is viewed positively by patients and even some physicians 20,21…”