Understanding Medication Adherence in Parkinsons Disease

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Understanding non-adherent medication-taking behaviour: A qualitative study of older patients with Parkinson’s disease.

• IRAS ID

  127706

• Contact name

  Matthew Lloyd

• Contact email

  mwlloyd@sky.com;matthew.lloyd1@nhs.net

• Research summary

  Drug regimens to treat Parkinson’s disease are often very complex; many patients take several different medications at multiple intervals throughout the day. Estimates suggest that as many as 65% of patients with Parkinson’s disease do not take their medication exactly as intended by their doctor. Such non-adherent medication-taking behaviour may take the form of missing doses; taking them at the wrong time; or taking more than is intended. Non-adherent patients are more likely to be depressed, have a poor quality of life, and have more severe Parkinsons disease. Such patients cost an additional £3,451 over 12 months, largely through hospital admissions.

  There is very little qualitative data concerning suboptimal medication adherence in Parkinson’s disease, i.e, we don’t know why many patients chose not to take their medication as intended by their doctor. The purpose of this research will be to acquire an in depth understanding of medication taking behaviours in the context of participants’ understanding of their illness, its treatment, and the social milieu in which they exist.

  Between 10 and 15 patients attending a geriatric movement disorders clinic shall be interviewed using a semi-structured approach. The interviews shall be audio-taped so as to be transcribed verbatim. Transcripts will be analysed using grounded theory to identify themes / patterns of non-adherent medication taking behaviours and their antecedents. Findings will hopefully empower doctors with greater knowledge of patient experiences of living with Parkinson’s disease so that they are in a better position to manage and educate their patients.

• REC name

  South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  13/SC/0562

• Date of REC Opinion

  22 Oct 2013

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion