Use of prescribed and non-prescribed medication for dyspepsia.
OBJECTIVE
To explore patient factors related to the use of prescribed and non-prescribed drugs for dyspepsia in The Netherlands.


METHODS
Patient survey study.


METHODS
Questionnaires sent to patients who had a prescription for dyspepsia medication from their general practitioner.


METHODS
Patient factors related to the on-demand use of prescribed medication and the use of non-prescribed medication for dyspepsia.


RESULTS
74% of the (n=518) patients had been receiving prescribed medication for dyspepsia for more than one year. A quarter of the patients were using the prescribed medication "on demand" instead of adhering to the instructions on the prescription. PPI prescriptions reduced the probability of using the medication on demand, compared with other prescribed drugs (OR 0.39). Some 19% of the patients were using non-prescribed drugs for dyspepsia. More of the patients who had visited their general practitioner in the previous 12 months were using their drugs on demand (OR 2.27) and were using non-prescribed drugs (OR 2.40) than the patients who had not visited their GP.


CONCLUSIONS
Clear information for patients on how to use their medication for dyspepsia may contribute to decreasing unnecessary drug use. Communication about (in)appropriate use of drugs "on demand", non-prescribed drugs, and health education should be addressed to all patient groups. Further studies on these topics should aim to improve medical care based on shared decision-making for patients with dyspepsia.
Krol
Nicole
N
Centre for Quality of Care Research, University Medical Centre St Radboud, Nijmegen 6500HB, The Netherlands. N.Krol@wok.umcn.nl
Muris
Jean W M
JW
Schattenberg
Geert
G
Grol
Richard
R
Wensing
Michel
M
D000328:Adult; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012646:Self Administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires