Rachidi Maya, Hatem Georges, Hatem Melissa, Zein Salam, Rachidi Samar, Awada Sanaa
Clinical and Epidemiological Research Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadat, Lebanon.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
J Med Access. 2023 Apr 7;7:27550834231163706. doi: 10.1177/27550834231163706. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.
Despite the efforts of the health system to improve access to medications during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, such as online consultations, encouraging generic prescriptions, and other measures to limit the storage of medication, psychotropic patients faced significant challenges in accessing their medications.
This study aimed (1) to compare the consumption of psychotropics before and during the pandemic, (2) to assess the association between having difficulties finding the medications and the general characteristics of the patients, and (3) to assess the predictors of these difficulties.
A case-control study was performed in which 128 patients (cases) were recruited during the pandemic (July-October 2021), and 256 patients (controls) using psychotropics before the pandemic were matched for age and sex.
Data were collected using a uniform survey given to patients using psychotropics and filled out at their time and place preferences.
More patients used antipsychotics and anti-anxiety medications before the pandemic, while antidepressants were used more during the pandemic. Almost half of the patients reported facing difficulties finding their medications in both time frames. Before the pandemic, these difficulties were noted per increase in age and being employed and were less faced if patients had medical assistance or lived in the north of Lebanon. However, more patients reported having difficulties accessing their medication during the pandemic, with no significant differences.
The consumption of psychotropic drugs was higher among cases. All patients faced challenges in accessing their medication throughout the pandemic, while older and employed patients had more limitations before the pandemic. Further investigations exploring viable solutions are recommended in order to maintain sustainable access to treatment.
尽管卫生系统在2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行期间努力改善药物获取途径，如在线咨询、鼓励开具通用处方以及采取其他限制药物储存的措施，但精神科患者在获取药物方面仍面临重大挑战。
本研究旨在（1）比较大流行前和大流行期间精神药物的消费量，（2）评估药物获取困难与患者一般特征之间的关联，以及（3）评估这些困难的预测因素。
进行了一项病例对照研究，在大流行期间（2021年7月至10月）招募了128名患者（病例组），并将256名在大流行前使用精神药物的患者（对照组）按年龄和性别进行匹配。
通过向使用精神药物的患者发放统一调查问卷来收集数据，患者可在自己方便的时间和地点填写。
在大流行前，更多患者使用抗精神病药物和抗焦虑药物，而在大流行期间抗抑郁药物的使用更为普遍。几乎一半的患者表示在两个时间段都面临药物获取困难。在大流行前，随着年龄增长和就业，这些困难更为明显，而如果患者有医疗援助或居住在黎巴嫩北部，则面临的困难较少。然而，更多患者表示在大流行期间获取药物有困难，且无显著差异。
病例组中精神药物的消费量更高。在整个大流行期间，所有患者在获取药物方面都面临挑战，而在大流行前，年龄较大和就业的患者受限更多。建议进一步调查探索可行的解决方案，以维持可持续的治疗获取途径。
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