A qualitative exploration of healthcare providers’ perspectives on patients’ non-recreational, prescription medicines sharing behaviours

Community engagement: The key to tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) across a One Health context?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a One Health problem underpinned by complex drivers and behaviours. This is particularly so in low - and middle-income countries (LMICs), where social and systemic factors fuel (mis)use and drive AMR. Behavioural change around antimicrobial use could safeguard both existing and future treatments. However, changing behaviour necessitates engaging with people to understand their experiences. This publication describes a knowledge-exchange cluster of six LMIC-based projects who co-designed and answered a series of research questions around the usage of Community Engagement (CE) within AMR. Findings suggest that CE can facilitate AMR behaviour change, specifically in LMICs, because it is a contextualised approach which supports communities to develop locally meaningful solutions. However, current CE interventions focus on human aspects, and demand-side drivers, of AMR. Our cluster suggests that broader attention should be paid to AMR as a One Health issue. The popularity of mixed methods approaches within existing CE for AMR interventions suggests there is interdisciplinary interest in the uptake of CE. Unfortunately, the specificity and context-dependency of CE can make it difficult to evaluate and scale. Nevertheless, we suggest that in synthesising learnings from CE, we can develop a collective understanding of its scope to tackle AMR across contexts.   .

The Underground Exchange of Diabetes Medications and Supplies: Donating, Trading, and Borrowing, Oh My!

BACKGROUND

The cost of diabetes medications and supplies is rising, resulting in access challenges. This study assessed the prevalence of and factors predicting underground exchange activities-donating, trading, borrowing, and purchasing diabetes medications and supplies.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A convenience sample of people affected by diabetes was recruited online to complete a survey. Mixed method analysis was undertaken, including logistic regression to examine the relationship between self-reported difficulty purchasing diabetes medications and supplies and engagement in underground exchange activity. Thematic qualitative analysis was used to examine open-text responses.

RESULTS

Participants (N = 159) self-reported engagement in underground exchange activities, including donating (56.6%), donation receiving (34.6%), trading (23.9%), purchasing (15.1%), and borrowing (22%). Such activity took place among a variety of individuals, including friends, family, coworkers, online acquaintances and strangers. Diabetes-specific financial stress predicted engagement in trading diabetes mediations or supplies (OR 6.3, 95% CI 2.2-18.5) and receiving donated medications or supplies (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-7.2). One overarching theme, unmet needs, and three subthemes emerged: (1) factors influencing underground exchange activity, (2) perceived benefits of underground exchange activity, and (3) perceived consequences of underground exchange activity.

CONCLUSION

Over half of the participants in this study engaged in underground exchange activities out of necessity. Providers must be aware about this underground exchange and inquire about safety and possible alternative resources. There is an urgent need to improve access to medications that are essential for life. Our study points to a failure in the US healthcare system since such underground exchanges may not be necessary if medications and supplies were accessible.

Prevalence and predictors of medicine saving and future prescription medicine sharing: findings from a New Zealand online survey

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of and factors predicting future prescription medicine sharing behaviours among adults in New Zealand (NZ). The prevalence and predictors of having leftover medicines at home and the relationship between medicine storing and sharing practices were also explored.

METHODS

An online, self-administered survey of a convenience sample of NZ adults was conducted. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between explanatory and outcome variables.

KEY FINDINGS

Two hundred and thirty three participants took part, who were mostly members of patient support groups across NZ. A high prevalence of leftover medicine storing practices (72.4%), future prescription medicine borrowing (72.8%) and lending (68.7%) behaviours was documented. Over half of the participants (57.1%) had never received advice from healthcare providers about the safe disposal of medicines, and 79.7% reported never having received information about risks of medicine sharing from healthcare providers. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, high income, having asthma and having leftover medicines stored at home were found to be positive predictors of future medicine lending or borrowing intentions. Further, high income was a positive predictor of having leftover medicines stored at home. Conversely, those with hypertension would be less likely to lend or borrow medicines.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of leftover medicine storing practices and future medicine sharing intentions among adults in NZ suggests it may be beneficial to provide patient and public education about appropriate use of prescribed medicines and safe medicine disposal procedures. Further research is needed to elicit effective strategies to reduce leftover medicines and unsafe medicine sharing practices.