Experiences of schizophrenia patients with treatment buddy support during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric disorder affecting physical, psychosocial, and cognitive functioning. Treatment includes pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions. Adherence to prescribed medication is critical but reportedly low, because of side effects, failure to understand instructions, a lack of insight about the condition, cognitive deficits, and financial difficulties. Interventions to promote adherence to medication are required. This study introduced a treatment buddy to provide the patient with virtual support in adherence to medication. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the participants' lived experiences of a treatment buddy support. Setting: A specialised psychiatric clinic in a resource-constrained district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods: A qualitative study design, using semi-structured one-on-one interviews, was used to collect in-depth data from 24 participants, suffering from schizophrenia and who had been offered virtual treatment buddy support for 6 months. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The intervention improved adherence to medication. Participants indicated that the text messages served as reminders to take their medication daily. An alleviation of associated problems such as sleeping difficulties was observed. Participants were willing to encourage other patients suffering from schizophrenia to join 'treatment buddy services'. Conclusion: The virtual treatment buddy support increased awareness of the importance to adhere to antipsychotic medications among patients suffering from schizophrenia and helped to resolve other schizophrenia-related problems experienced by the participants. Contribution: The study has provided a supportive intervention that can be utilised by mental health institutions to address poor adherence to medication by patients suffering from schizophrenia.

Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and practices towards the use of complementary and alternative medicines in Durban, South Africa

Background: Atopic eczema (AE) is a common skin disease with an increasing worldwide prevalence, which has almost doubled over the last decade in South Africa. Many patients commonly explore complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) for AE and often initially seek advice from their local pharmacists.Aim: To explore the knowledge, attitude and practices amongst community pharmacists regarding CAM.Setting: The study was conducted amongst pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Durban, South Africa.Methods: During 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 158 randomly selected pharmacists, of which 82 responded. Respondents were sent an email with a link to the questionnaire. Where logistically possible, questionnaires were hand-delivered.Results: The majority of respondents were male (n = 46; 56%), aged between 31 and 40 years. Despite most pharmacists not being familiar with various CAMs for AE, many (43%) recommend them, and 50% were amenable to referring patients to CAM practitioners. Despite 51% reporting that patients do ask about CAM for AE, 54% are not confident discussing or initiating discussions with patients. More than half of the pharmacists (55%) had no CAM training but believed it is essential for inclusion in the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum. Most were interested in broadening their knowledge on CAM and felt it would better prepare them in counselling their patients.Conclusions: The study demonstrated poor knowledge and communication about CAM for AE between pharmacists and patients, although pharmacists exhibited strong interests in learning more about CAM. There is a continuing need for education programmes and inclusion into undergraduate curricula that would assist pharmacists to advise patients on different types of CAMs

Community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and practices towards the use of complementary and alternative medicines in Durban, South Africa

Background: Atopic eczema (AE) is a common skin disease with an increasing worldwide prevalence, which has almost doubled over the last decade in South Africa. Many patients commonly explore complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) for AE and often initially seek advice from their local pharmacists. Aim: To explore the knowledge, attitude and practices amongst community pharmacists regarding CAM. Setting: The study was conducted amongst pharmacists working in community pharmacies in Durban, South Africa. Methods: During 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 158 randomly selected pharmacists, of which 82 responded. Respondents were sent an email with a link to the questionnaire. Where logistically possible, questionnaires were hand-delivered. Results: The majority of respondents were male (n= 46; 56%), aged between 31 and 40 years. Despite most pharmacists not being familiar with various CAMs for AE, many (43%) recommend them, and 50% were amenable to referring patients to CAM practitioners. Despite 51% reporting that patients do ask about CAM for AE, 54% are not confident discussing or initiating discussions with patients. More than half of the pharmacists (55%) had no CAM training but believed it is essential for inclusion in the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum. Most were interested in broadening their knowledge on CAM and felt it would better prepare them in counselling their patients. Conclusions: The study demonstrated poor knowledge and communication about CAM for AE between pharmacists and patients, although pharmacists exhibited strong interests in learning more about CAM. There is a continuing need for education programmes and inclusion into undergraduate curricula that would assist pharmacists to advise patients on different types of CAMs