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Patients with chronic asthma found medicine information to be unclear or confusing, did not receive complete information on medicine use and side effects, and found leaflets to be unhelpful

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Q What are the medication related experiences and perceptions of patients with chronic asthma? What are their views on mandatory leaflets provided by drug manufacturers?

DESIGN

Qualitative study.

SETTING

6 community pharmacies in Leeds, UK.

PATIENTS

23 patients (age range 13–82 y, 52% women) with asthma (duration 3 to >40 y).

METHODS

Patients participated in 1 of four 90 minute focus groups. After describing their medication related experiences, patients were asked to comment on 5 leaflets about asthma medicine (reliever and preventer inhalers, generic and branded broad spectrum antibiotics, and a generic oral steroid). Audiotapes were transcribed verbatim, and themes and categories were generated.

MAIN FINDINGS

10 themes were identified. (1) Information experiences. Almost half of the patients felt that the information they received met their needs and helped them to feel in control of their symptoms. The remainder felt that the information given was unclear or confusing or that information was wanted but not given. Patients identified 5 information …

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Footnotes

  • For correspondence: Dr D K Raynor, Pharmacy Practice and Medicines Management Group, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. d.k.raynorleeds.ac.uk

  • Source of funding: no external funding.