Table 3.
Content of pharmacist consultations (n = 20 visits) in scenario 3
| Content of information | n | % of visits |
|---|---|---|
| Information gathering | ||
| Why is the patient taking the antidepressant medication | 6 | 30 |
| If the patient has been to see the general practitioner recently | 13 | 65 |
| How has the patient been taking the antidepressant (eg, whether patient is still taking the antidepressant or questions about dose and timing)* | 10 | 50 |
| How long has the patient been taking the antidepressant | 14 | 70 |
| Probes for patient’s reasons for wanting to discontinue antidepressant treatment* | 13 | 65 |
| Probes for patient’s additional concerns (such as long-term effects) and barriers to using the antidepressant (such as side effects)* | 8 | 40 |
| Ascertain patient has adequate supply of antidepressant medication* | 5 | 25 |
| If the patient takes any other medications in addition to the antidepressant | 5 | 25 |
| If the patient has any other medical conditions | 1 | 5 |
| Information provision | ||
| Timeframe of treatment | ||
| Time to onset of effects for antidepressants* | 3 | 15 |
| Duration of antidepressant treatment according to treatment guidelines* | 5 | 25 |
| Explains importance of continuing antidepressant treatment/risks associated with premature discontinuation (eg, increased risk of relapse)* | 6 | 30 |
| Adverse effects | ||
| Address patient’s concerns about harms of long-term antidepressant treatment* | 4 | 20 |
| Information resources | ||
| Provides written information about antidepressant* | 5 | 25 |
| Nonpharmacologic management | ||
| Discussions of lifestyle and psychosocial activities or stressors related to depression* | 2 | 10 |
| Discussions of herbal supplements (eg, St John’s wort) and nonpharmacologic alternatives (eg, counseling, psychotherapy) | 2 | 10 |
| Treatment recommendations | ||
| Encourage patient to go to the general practitioner for treatment follow-up or further advice | 19 | 95 |
| Provides advice against sudden discontinuation of antidepressant (eg, explanation on withdrawal symptoms)* | 19 | 95 |
| Provides instructions on tapering off antidepressant treatment | 11 | 55 |
| Recommend patient to stay on treatment for at least 6 months* | 3 | 15 |
Note:
*
Information shown by previous studies to be associated with improved antidepressant medication adherence.