Medicine information for patients with a major depression at hospital discharge]

This article provides an overview of several parts of a doctoral thesis on medicine information for patients with a major depression at hospital discharge. A review of the international literature showed that medicine information can increase knowledge and adherence. Inpatients would like to receive more information on the medicines prescribed. The GIPPOZ-study showed positive results on a few economic outcomes when a differentiated approach in providing information on antidepressants was applied. Follow-up calls of participants of the GIPPOZ-study yielded interesting qualitative findings on problems and perspective after discharge from hospital. The hospital pharmacists stressed the individual approach of patients during the GIPPOZ-study. Practice and health policy suggestions were formulated. Health care professionals should provide more information to patients on their medicines. Policy makers should guarantee a structure so that health care professionals can fulfill their role as provider of medication information.