Men's views of antidepressant treatment for depression, and their implications for community pharmacy practice

Brydges, Sarah; Rennick- Egglestone, Steffan; Anderson, Claire

Abstract

Background

Men with depression can express and navigate their condition differently to women. Understanding this population's needs, and experiences, can help healthcare professionals better support these patients. There is a lack of knowledge in this area, and no studies have explored men's depression in the context of community pharmacy.

Objectives

Explore views of men around their medication for the treatment of depression and the role of community pharmacy in their treatment.

Setting

United Kingdom (UK) primary care.

Method

Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. Eligible participants were male, aged 18–65 years, and treating depression with antidepressants. Participants were recruited through 5 UK pharmacies (via the pharmacist or poster recruitment) and a UK University (poster recruitment). A thematic approach was used for analysis.

Results

14 men aged 26–61 years, predominantly of white ethnicity were interviewed. Key themes were found. The theme ‘Antidepressant's attributions to benefits' highlighted all men noticed benefits when taking antidepressants, but held uncertainty on what extent their antidepressants caused this. The themes ‘Views of pharmacist's role influences engagement’, and ‘Influence of cognitive state upon healthcare interactions’ demonstrated men were not inclined to discuss concerns with the community pharmacist. These men didn't see this as the pharmacist's role, nor had these men given cognitive space to evaluate their treatment beliefs or information needs. Yet the theme ‘Reflection of support and information needs’ shows men did have unmet information and support needs. This also links into the ‘Hegemonic Masculinity and taking antidepressants’ theme, where taking antidepressants could challenge ones masculinity.

Conclusion

Community pharmacists should create opportunities for men to engage in conversations around their antidepressants and wider support. Men, as a requisite for engagement, will need to see such interactions as within the community pharmacists’ remit, and as part of a collaborative healthcare system.

Citation

Brydges, S., Rennick- Egglestone, S., & Anderson, C. (2020). Men's views of antidepressant treatment for depression, and their implications for community pharmacy practice. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 16(8), 1041-1049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2019.10.016

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 28, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Nov 1, 2019
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Deposit Date: Nov 11, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 2, 2020
• Journal: Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy
• Print ISSN: 1551-7411
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 1041-1049
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2019.10.016
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3075187
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1551741119307338