Journal article 183 views 26 downloads
Experiences and behaviours of patients with asthma requesting prescriptions from primary care during medication shortages linked to the COVID-19 lockdown: insights from a qualitative analysis of a UK asthma online community
,
Sara Sadek Attalla,
Gwyneth Davies ,
Chris J Griffiths,
Anna De Simoni
BJGP Open, Volume: 6, Issue: 4, Start page: BJGPO.2021.0222
Swansea University Author:
Gwyneth Davies
-
PDF | Version of Record
Copyright © 2022, The Authors. This article is released under the terms of a CC BY license.
Download (976.4KB)
DOI (Published version): 10.3399/bjgpo.2021.0222
Abstract
Background Inhaler shortages were reported in the UK following declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting advice against stockpiling.Aim To understand experiences and behaviours of patients with asthma requesting prescriptions from primary care during asthma medication shortages.Design & se...
| Published in: | BJGP Open |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2398-3795 |
| Published: |
Royal College of General Practitioners
2022
|
| Online Access: |
Check full text
|
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70388 |
| Abstract: |
Background Inhaler shortages were reported in the UK following declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting advice against stockpiling.Aim To understand experiences and behaviours of patients with asthma requesting prescriptions from primary care during asthma medication shortages.Design & setting UK asthma online community, between March and December 2020.Method Thematic analysis of posts identified using search terms ‘shortage’, ‘out of stock’, ‘prescribe’, and ‘prescription’.Results Sixty-seven participants were identified (48 adults, two children, 17 unstated age). Factors leading to increased requests included the following: stockpiling; early ordering; realising inhalers were out of date; and doctors prescribing multiple medication items. Patients’ anxieties that could lead to stockpiling included the following: fear of asthma attacks leading to admission and acquiring COVID-19 in hospital; lack of dose counters on some inhalers; and believing a lower amount of drug is delivered in the last actuations. Strategies adopted in relation to shortages or changes in treatment owing to out-of-stock medications included the following: starting stockpiling; ordering prescriptions early; contacting medical professionals for advice or alternative prescriptions; getting ‘emergency prescriptions’; ordering online or privately; seeking medications in different pharmacies; contacting drug manufacturers; and keeping track of number of doses left in canisters. No evidence was found of anxiety-triggered asthma symptoms that required medications due to fear of COVID-19. Participants seemed to disregard advice against stockpiling.Conclusion Better preparation is a key lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians, the pharmaceutical industry, and policymakers should use insights from this work to plan how to better manage medication shortages in future emergency situations. |
|---|---|
| Keywords: |
asthma, coronavirus, pandemics, COVID- 19, shortage, inhalers, online community, qualitative research |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
Anna De Simoni is funded by Barts Charity MGU0419. REAL - Health: REsearch Actionable Learning Health Systems Asthma programme. |
| Issue: |
4 |
| Start Page: |
BJGPO.2021.0222 |