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.
COVID-19
asthma
coronavirus
inhalers
online community
pandemics
qualitative research
shortage
Journal
BJGP open
ISSN: 2398-3795
Titre abrégé: BJGP Open
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101713531
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Dec 2022
Dec 2022
Historique:
received:
25
11
2021
revised:
20
03
2022
accepted:
07
04
2022
pubmed:
1
6
2022
medline:
1
6
2022
entrez:
31
5
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Inhaler shortages were reported in the UK following declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting advice against stockpiling. To understand experiences and behaviours of patients with asthma requesting prescriptions from primary care during asthma medication shortages. UK asthma online community, between March and December 2020. Thematic analysis of posts identified using search terms 'shortage', 'out of stock', 'prescribe', and 'prescription'. 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 Factors leading to increased requests included the following: stockpiling; early ordering; realising inhalers were out of date; and doctors prescribing multiple medication items.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. 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.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Inhaler shortages were reported in the UK following declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting advice against stockpiling.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
To understand experiences and behaviours of patients with asthma requesting prescriptions from primary care during asthma medication shortages.
DESIGN & SETTING
METHODS
UK asthma online community, between March and December 2020.
METHOD
METHODS
Thematic analysis of posts identified using search terms 'shortage', 'out of stock', 'prescribe', and 'prescription'.
RESULTS
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
CONCLUSIONS
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.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35640963
pii: BJGPO.2021.0222
doi: 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0222
pmc: PMC9904783
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022, The Authors.
Références
Respir Med. 2004 Oct;98 Suppl B:S35-40
pubmed: 15481287
Thorax. 2021 Sep;76(9):867-873
pubmed: 33782079
BMJ. 2020 Apr 3;369:m1393
pubmed: 32245751
Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2020 Jul;17(7):1025-1039
pubmed: 32551990
BMJ Open. 2018 Mar 30;8(3):e020133
pubmed: 29602848
BMJ Open Respir Res. 2022 Jan;9(1):
pubmed: 35027428
Br J Gen Pract. 2020 Oct 1;70(699):e696-e704
pubmed: 32895242
J Med Internet Res. 2019 Jan 16;21(1):e10929
pubmed: 30664459
BMJ Open. 2018 Feb 23;8(2):e019921
pubmed: 29476029
J Asthma. 2013 Aug;50(6):658-63
pubmed: 23544966
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2001 Jun;86(6 Suppl 1):24-30
pubmed: 11426913
Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol. 2020 Dec;33(4):216-219
pubmed: 35921564
Thorax. 1995 Jul;50(7):746-9
pubmed: 7570408
BMJ Open. 2017 Jun 13;7(6):e015245
pubmed: 28615272
J Pharm Policy Pract. 2020 May 20;13:19
pubmed: 32454983
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020 Jul - Aug;8(7):2384-2385
pubmed: 32371047
J Asthma Allergy. 2020 Oct 15;13:505-508
pubmed: 33116658
Nature. 2020 Aug;584(7821):430-436
pubmed: 32640463
Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 11;10(1):21805
pubmed: 33311519
BMJ Open. 2016 Apr 06;6(4):e010501
pubmed: 27053271
Int J Pharm. 2001 Jun 19;221(1-2):165-74
pubmed: 11397578
BMJ Open. 2016 Apr 06;6(4):e009974
pubmed: 27053267
Thorax. 2021 Sep;76(9):860-866
pubmed: 33782080
Br J Gen Pract. 2014 Mar;64(620):e178-80
pubmed: 24567657
Lancet Respir Med. 2020 Nov;8(11):1070-1071
pubmed: 32593314