Table 1.
Content of pharmacist consultations (n = 20 visits) in scenario 1
| Content of information | n | % of visits |
|---|---|---|
| Information gathering | ||
| Who the medication is for | 11 | 55 |
| Patient’s prior use of antidepressant medication or other treatment for depression* | 12 | 60 |
| Information given by general practitioner about antidepressant medication and other treatment options (or reason for prescribed antidepressant) | 16 | 80 |
| Questions about patient’s medical condition (eg, depression symptoms, severity) | 6 | 30 |
| Probe for patient’s concerns about antidepressants* | 13 | 65 |
| If the patient takes any other medications | 8 | 40 |
| If the patient has any other medical conditions | 2 | 10 |
| Information provision | ||
| Indication/mechanism of action | ||
| Explanation of indication/purpose of antidepressant | 16 | 80 |
| Biomedical explanation of depression as an illness and how antidepressant works* | 11 | 55 |
| Technical information | ||
| Dosage or strength of the medication* | 9 | 45 |
| Timing/schedule (how or when to take the medication)* | 7 | 35 |
| Expected benefits | ||
| Expected benefits from antidepressants (eg, target symptoms)* | 14 | 70 |
| Timeframe of treatment | ||
| Time to onset of effects for antidepressants* | 12 | 60 |
| Expected duration of antidepressant treatment* | 7 | 35 |
| Dosage needs to be tapered off slowly before stopping* | 10 | 50 |
| Adherence messages | ||
| Continue to take medicine even if feeling better* | 3 | 15 |
| Don’t stop taking it without checking with a doctor/pharmacist* | 5 | 25 |
| Take it on a daily basis without interruption* | 4 | 20 |
| Not to take any more than the usual dosage | 1 | 5 |
| Side effects | ||
| Common possible side effects of antidepressants* | 15 | 75 |
| Management of common side effects* | 8 | 40 |
| When or how long side effects might be* | 7 | 35 |
| Provides explanation of the term dependency or addiction in the context of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use* | 9 | 45 |
| Information resources | ||
| What to do if there are questions or concerns about the antidepressant* | 8 | 40 |
| Provides written information about antidepressants* | 15 | 75 |
| Recommendations of information sources (eg, websites)* | 3 | 15 |
| Nonpharmacologic management | ||
| Discussions of lifestyle and psychosocial activities* | 3 | 15 |
| Discussions of nonpharmacologic treatment alternatives (eg, seeking counseling or other professional help)* | 8 | 40 |
| Other | ||
| Information about generic versus original brands for medication | 2 | 10 |
Note:
*
Information shown by previous studies to be associated with improved antidepressant medication adherence, and/or information needs of patients starting antidepressant treatment.