Navigating complexity of the medication management system within the home setting—a functional resonance analysis method (FRAM) analysis of people with dementia and their carers’ experiences

Abstract

Abstract Background There is a strong imperative to support people with dementia to live independently in their homes for as long as possible. A starting point is to understand how they manage medications on a daily basis. Aim To understand how people with dementia and their informal carers manage medications within the home setting to inform the identification of opportunities to improve medication management. Methods A qualitative study using the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM). Interview data with people with dementia and informal carers were analysed to (i) Identify and describe key functions, (ii) identify and describe variability in performing key functions, and its potential consequences and (iii) map performance variability to Resilient Healthcare capacities. Results and discussion A FRAM model was developed and consisted of 14 interdependent key functions. The interdependent nature of functions, and the different nature and sources of variability in how each key function was performed highlighted the level of complexity of the medication management system within the home setting. The medication system was managed almost entirely by the person with dementia and/or their informal carers. This shows the lack of system-level controls to support the safe functioning of the medication management system in the home setting. Conclusion Future work will develop a comprehensive FRAM model that includes the perspectives of health and social care professionals and those from the third sectors to underpin the development of a range of system recommendations to strengthen resilience in the medication management system within the home setting.