Polymedication-Check With Insight in Patients' Medication Organisation and Comprehension of Generics

Patients organise their multiple medications differently in daily life. The study will investigate the different organisation strategies to get a better understanding of patients' behaviour. The behaviour is assessed with a questionnaire containing 14 questions on the management of medication including single choice, multiple choice and free text questions. As example the number of patients already using a medication organisation system will be assessed, the number of patients using a weekly or daily pillbox will be assessed, and who is filling the medication organisation system.

Patients have a different comprehension of generics including their advantages and disadvantages. The study will investigate patients' comprehension of generics to get a better understanding of patients' behaviour. The comprehension is assessed with a questionnaire containing 4 questions on the believes about generics including single choice, multiple choice and free text questions. As example the number of patients knowing that they use generics is assessed and the patient's personal opinion on advantages and disadvantages of generics is investigated.

Assessment of proportion of patients already using Multicompartment Compliance Aids prior to interview.

Assessment of number of brand name medication which could be substituted by generic medication and willingness of pharmacists to recommend generic medicines.

Prevalence of present and/or past swallowing difficulties and coping strategies will be assessed. A specific question (from SWAMECO) on the experienced swallowing difficulties is asked and will be answered on a visual analog scale (0 to 100%). If swallowing-difficulties are present, 2 more questions are asked: Which medication is difficult to swallow and how medication is altered in order to be able to swallow them.

Number of recommended use of Multicompartment Compliance Aids by pharmacists.