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Patient acceptability and experiences of therapeutic switching of proton pump inhibitors within the National Preferred Drugs initiative in Ireland

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Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

A ‘Preferred Drugs’ initiative was introduced into Ireland in 2013. This identified a single recommended drug to be prescribed to patients requiring treatment from a particular class of drugs.

Aims

This study investigates how patients on established proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy experienced the therapeutic switching of their medication to the ‘preferred drug’, and the extent to which they regarded it as an acceptable practice.

Methods

The experiences of 61 patients on established proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy were sought before and after their drug was switched to the ‘preferred drug’.

Results

Eighty per cent of patients were happy to switch medications. When asked for their opinions on medications in general, 71% felt doctors should prescribe the least expensive medication, 84% agreed that all licensed medications were safe while 67% felt their GP changing medication for cost reasons was safe. After 8 weeks, 20% of patients had switched back to their old PPI. When asked how they felt about their medication change, 74% felt happy or pleased.

Conclusions

The majority of patients in our study were satisfied to have their medication switched. However, prescribers should be mindful that 1 in 5 patients encountered problems as a result of the switching process.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Rita Doyle, Bray Family Practice, Co Wicklow and Dr. Andrina O Brien, Blessington Family Practice, Blessington, Co Wicklow, together with the patients and staff in both practices for their help and support with the Project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. General Practice Registrar, Trinity College Dublin/Health Service Executive General Practice Training Scheme, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity Centre, AMNCH, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland

    G. O’Connor & D. O’Keeffe

  2. Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

    G. O’Connor, D. O’Keeffe, C. Darker & B. O’Shea

Authors
  1. G. O’Connor
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  2. D. O’Keeffe
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  3. C. Darker
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  4. B. O’Shea
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. O’Connor.

Ethics declarations

Funding

No funding was sought or given for this study.

Conflict of interest

G. O’Connor declares that he has no conflict of interest. D. O’Keeffe declares that he has no conflict of interest. C. Darker declares that she has no conflict of interest. B. O’Shea declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

This study and all its procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of Trinity College Dublin and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments. Ethical approval was sought and given by the Trinity College Dublin ethics committee prior to commencement of the study.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Appendices

Appendix 1: 1st survey

Appendix 2: 2nd survey

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O’Connor, G., O’Keeffe, D., Darker, C. et al. Patient acceptability and experiences of therapeutic switching of proton pump inhibitors within the National Preferred Drugs initiative in Ireland. Ir J Med Sci 186, 631–639 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-016-1535-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-016-1535-2

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