Percepción de los efectos secundarios de los psicofármacos en una muestra de España, Portugal y Chequia y grado de satisfacción con la información recibida

Abstract

In the previous search of scientific literature we don't find references about the ¿The satisfaction of information about perception of side effects in patients under psychoactive treatment¿. We carried out a study to learn the characteristics of the perception of the symptoms of the adverse effects produced by the psychoactive drugs. We think that this former topic could be interesting from a practical point of view. Aims of the Thesis: To learn what are the factors that affect the perception of side effects of the psychoactive drug, and if are there is adequate communication between the patient who receive the psychoactive treatment and the healthcare professional, as well as to identify the social-demographic factors that influence the knowledge of the side effects of the psychoactive drugs in the patients. Material and methods: We made a transversal study in three different samples: from Spain, Portugal and from Czech Republic. We want to know if there will be social-demographic differences in our study. Previously validated questionnaires were applied. Samples were selected by simple random sampling of patients attending the primary outpatient clinic and specialized in psychiatry, the main reason for which is a psychiatric pathology. The exclusion criteria of the study participants were: patients with cognitive impairment that did not allow a good understanding of the questionnaire, patients who had difficulty reading the questionnaire, patients younger than 20 years and older than 90 years. The questionnaire is closed and anonymous, structured into 18 items. The Spanish sample (n = 399 patients) had an average age of 50.55 years, the Portuguese sample (n = 160 patients) had an average age of 53.11 years and the Czech sample (n = 90 patients)had an average age of 44.6 years. Results: Patients with a higher educational level have a higher level of satisfaction with the information received as well as a greater degree of satisfaction in solving the doubts. Those with a higher level of dissatisfaction search information through the internet or in the medication package leaflet to resolve any doubts about the treatment. Sometimes the prospectus does not contain all the adverse effects that the patient perceives and attributes to the use of psychotropic drugs. Those patients who report having been informed by the healthcare professional have a higher level of satisfaction for both the information received on adverse effects and the resolution of doubts. Reporting is a complex process. Healthcare professionals must acquire and develop communication skills to meet the needs of patients in relation to their health, and to assume a co-responsible attitude with the patient. Reasons for lack of adherence include: problems with prescribed medications (such as adverse effects), poor instructions, poor relationship between professionals and the patient. If the patient is being treated with psychoactive drugs, adherence is essential for effective treatment. It is important for patients to know why they have prescribed their medications and how they work because this information can increase their participation in the care of their health. We have seen that the Portuguese and Czech samples prefer to communicate the adverse effects to the psychiatrist, but in the Spanish sample we find that they prefer to communicate to the General Practitioner. Portuguese and Czech patients have higher level of satisfaction than the Spanish sample. Patients with high educational level are more satisfied with the information received in the three samples. The information is a right of the patient and an obligation of the physician. The information must be modulated by the physician and adapted for both the patient and their relatives. To inform is to treat. Patients under psychoactive drugs are treated with medical information.