Concordance with antidepressant medication in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
To identify how depression is managed in primary care settings and examine patients' perspectives on their care and the impact medication had on their recovery. This article specifically addresses patients' accounts of the influences on medication concordance.


METHODS
A total of 60 patients from four primary care centres who had a recent episode of depression were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and a framework analysis to identify recurring themes. Participants had largely recovered from their illness.


RESULTS
Many factors influenced patients' decisions to take and continue prescribed antidepressants and four broad themes were identified. These were: the role and relationship with health practitioners; factors related to the illness; beliefs about and experiences of medication for depression; and the wider context of depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Concordance with antidepressants is multifactorial and may change over time in the same patient. Influences on concordance may be positive or negative and the combined effects are highly individual and dependent on circumstances. Nurses involved in medication management should encourage discussion of the likely impact of, and patients' attitudes toward, medication.
Badger
Frances
F
University of Birmingham. f.j.badger@bham.ac.uk
Nolan
Peter
P
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003657:Decision Making; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012646:Self Administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000928:Antidepressive Agents