title: Perspective of community pharmacists on their practice with patients who have an antidepressant drug treatment: findings from a focus group study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Around 2/3 of patients with major depression discontinue their antidepressant drug treatment (ADT) prematurely. Community pharmacists can rely on their regular contacts with patients to identify and support those experiencing difficulties with their ADT.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to describe pharmacists' perceptions with respect to their practices related to patients having an ADT.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study was conducted based on 6 focus groups involving 43 community pharmacists in 5 regions of Quebec province, Canada. Verbatim transcripts of focus groups were analyzed using computer-assisted thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The discussions revealed three major aspects of the participants' pharmacy practice: convincing patients to initiate ADT, dealing with side effects in the first weeks of the treatment, and taking a reactive approach to managing the treatment for the remainder of the follow-up. Discussions also enabled participants to identify the challenges they face concerning their practice with patients who have an ADT, and voice their recommendations for improving pharmacy practice and ultimately patient adherence to ADT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacists wishing to help their patients to adequately manage their ADT face important barriers. Potential solutions include tools designed to help pharmacists better detect and intervene in ADT-related problems. Study findings will guide the on-going development of training and tools to support pharmacists' practice in this context.
authors.affiliation: Chair on Adherence to Treatments, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillaumie
authors.affiliation: Chair on Adherence to Treatments, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Jocelyne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moisan
authors.affiliation: Chair on Adherence to Treatments, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Grégoire
authors.affiliation: Panacée Conseil, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Villeneuve
authors.affiliation: Direction régionale de la santé publique, Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Clément
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beaucage
authors.affiliation: Chair on Adherence to Treatments, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bujold
authors.affiliation: Chair on Adherence to Treatments, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. Electronic address: sophie.lauzier@pha.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lauzier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D011792:Quebec
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Antidepressant drugs; Community pharmacy services; Depression; Pharmaceutical services; Pharmacists