Medicines, ‘medication work’ and networks of support in the community following mental health hospital discharge: A qualitative interview study

Summary

The study explored how people with mental health conditions managed their medicines after leaving hospital. It analysed 34 interviews conducted with 10 people with lived experience, 7 carers and 17 healthcare professionals which revealed extensive ‘medication work’ following discharge. It defines ‘medication work’ as the routine medicine-taking tasks and strategies that individuals employ to ensure safe medicine use.

The authors found that medication safety following mental health hospital discharge relies heavily on support networks and the ‘medication work’ of patients and carers. Health professionals play a central but variable and contextual, role within these networks. They suggest greater recognition of social support networks and the situated nature of ‘medication work’ is needed to improve post-discharge medication safety and support in community mental health care.

This research was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) and the NIHR Patient Safety Research Collaboration (PSRC): Greater Manchester.