Table 5.
Examples of adherence messages mentioned by community pharmacists in consultations
| Aspect of adherencea | Types of adherence messages | Study examples |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance | Take antidepressant medication daily | “It’s very important to be taken every day.” (Scenario 1) “And under no circumstances do you miss dose.” (Scenario 1) |
| Antidepressant is not a medication to take on and off | “It’s not a medication where you want to start and stop […] So you’ve got to sort of keep it consistent.” (Scenario 1) “And you need to be taking it regularly to see the full effects.” (Scenario 2) |
|
| Do not take any more than the usual dosage | “Don’t take any more than the usual dosage.” (Scenario 1) | |
| Persistence | Take antidepressant medication even if feeling better | “But it’s not an on and off thing. It’s not a one week – oh no, no I feel fine. You make a decision, you stick to it.” (Scenario 1) “In three months, it’s not long enough […] You feel so much better because you’ve been on it […] In three months, that’s not enough for repair.” (Scenario 3) “And the fact that you are feeling a lot better could be because of the tablets, and if you stop it so quickly then there is a chance, there is that risk that you’re going to hit low again.” (Scenario 3) |
| Continue antidepressant medication although the effect may not be noticed straight away | “The full effect may take about 4–6 weeks to manifest. So you will need to be a little patient when you start taking this medicine.” (Scenario 1) “Definitely stick to the Lovan for now. Don’t feel too discouraged that it’s not going to work straight away. But just to give it some time.” (Scenario 2) “Look, I say persist with it. You may find that, you might start to get the benefit in the next couple of weeks.” (Scenario 2) |
|
| Do not stop antidepressant suddenly/without discussing with the doctor | “You can’t just wake up in the morning and say I don’t want to take it anymore.” (Scenario 1) “My advice to patients is to keep taking their medication, and don’t stop it unless the doctor advises them to.” (Scenario 3) “It’s essential that you keep taking it unless the doctor advises otherwise.” (Scenario 3) |
|
| Take antidepressant for at least 6 months | “If you’re gonna start, then you go for the full 6 months.” (Scenario 1) “Usually once you go on this medication, you stay on it for about 6–12 months. To go off it too quickly, it won’t be as effective.” (Scenario 2) “And we know from research, that people who stay on this for you know, 6 months once they get treated, then they feel better. Then they’re much less likely to have depression coming back, you know.” (Scenario 3) |