Carers’ Perspectives on Home Medication Review by a State Hospital in Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction: Home Medications Review (HMR) is a continuation of patient care from healthcare facilities to their home to assess patients’ pharmacotherapy by a multidisciplinary team. To improve the provision, we need to understand carers’ viewpoints of the current service. This study aims to explore the carers’ perspectives of HMR conducted by the medical outreach team (MOT) of a Malaysian hospital.  Methods: A qualitative study was conducted among primary caretakers who were involved in the HMR programme for more than six months. Subjects were recruited by purposive sampling from August to December 2019. In-depth interviews were conducted at patients’ home, until data saturation. The audio-recording were transcribed verbatim, subsequently underwent thematic analysis. Results: Nine carers were interviewed. All participants had a limited understanding of HMR as they claimed not being adequately counselled prior to admission to the programme. The convenience of not having to go to the hospital was perceived as the major benefit of the programme. Healthcare providers were welcomed during visits. Some carers have trouble identifying allied health professionals in the MOT. There was a concern about having to collect newly add-on medications from the hospital. Some participants suggested increasing the frequency of visits and hoping for more financial aid. Conclusion: In this study, carers’ comprehension of HMR was generally poor. All carers were satisfied with our HMR programme. However, several aspects need to be strengthened to improve patients’ wellbeing. Despite HMR being temporarily replaced by telemedicine during the current pandemic, HMR remains relevant in the post-COVID-19 era.