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Euro Durg/Working Groups/TUPP

An EURO-DURG Working group in collaboration with WHO-Europe
The social meanings of mood-modifying medicines in Europe

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Overall Objective and description
Selected Articles
Partecipants
"Newcomers" (How to join...!)

Write to the project Leader Prof. Ebba Holme-Hansen

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

HISTORY OF TUPP

• 1st EURO DURG CONFERENCE BALATON 1996
• EURO DURG CONFERENCE BERLIN 1997
• WHO/EURO DURG  PROJECT MEETING. COPENHAGEN MARCH 1998
• BERLIN AUGUST 1998

BACKGROUND & FOCUS

• APPLYING THE USER PERSPECTIVE
• THE EUROPEAN DIMENSION
• MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM
• RESEARCH QUESTIONS RE. USERS'

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

Background

It has been shown that the use of  mood-modifying drugs varies greatly across countries and between regions. Cultural factors appear to be important in explaining these differences. Research that uncovers the reasons for such disparity is scant and needs refocusing to include the medicine user.

Participants at the 1st Congress of the European Drug Utilization Research Group in 1996 at Lake Balaton showed great interest in researching the user perspective on medicine use.

It was decided to conduct workshops on the User Perspective Project (TUPP) during the EURO DURG Conference in Berlin 1997.

The workshops concluded that a project should be developed, with a special focus on antidepressants and tranquillisers. Several research issues were put forward and agreed upon and it was decided that empirical methods would primarily be qualitative. Several EURO DURGers declared their interest as project participants.

The project has support from WHO EURO Pharmaceuticals Unit which is why there will be a  mutual WHO/EURO DURG TUPP meeting at the WHO office in Copenhagen (26-28 March 1998).

Objective

The overall objective of the meeting is to frame a protocol for pan-European research on the user perspective on mood-modifying medicines (TUPP)

Specific objectives

These will be further determined during the meeting (Berlin, August 1998), which has the following specific objectives: to

• discuss expectations, research experience and expected input from different national groups
• develop research questions and specifically, to identify core (mutual) research questions
• discuss and specify mutual data collection methods
• discuss project goals and output
• discuss the possible inclusion of European countries not yet represented
• discuss and specify the WHO/EURO DURG links re. TUPP
• develop a project plan, incl. definition of project phases and time table
• draft an organisational structure
• discuss possible financing and grant applications
• determine time and place of next meeting

Ebba Holme Hansen
March 1998

HISTORY OF TUPP

1st EURO DURG CONFERENCE BALATON 1996

• Participants recommend to research the user perspective re. medicine use
• Several therapeutic groups and user groups were suggested

EURO DURG CONFERENCE BERLIN 1997

Workshops on researching the user perspective. The workshops concluded:

• a project should be developed
• focus on psychotropic drugs
• several research issues suggested
• primarily qualitative methods
• several EURO DURGers interested in participating

WHO/EURO DURG  PROJECT MEETING. COPENHAGEN MARCH 1998

• elements for a protocol were developed after some presentations

BERLIN AUGUST 1998

• involvement of new project members
• further development of protocol
• presentation of project element to EURO DURG

BACKGROUND & FOCUS

FOCUS ON MOOD-MODIFYING MEDICINES

The use of psychopharmaceuticals may have unintended effects

• adverse effects, incl. dependence
• abuse
• cost

Biomedical products are used to treat not only physical, but also psychological and social problems.

APPLYING THE USER PERSPECTIVE

Patterns of use differ between population groups

• gender
• age
• "social status"

In-country variations between local settings may be explained partly by variations between population groups, partly by variations between local preferences (professionalsí and usersí).
Individuals' medicine taking behaviour and rationalities depend on:

• general perception of medicines
• perceived previous experience with the use of medicines
• (includes course of illness, experienced effects, experienced adverse effects)
• perceived benefits and risks
• perceived severity of problems or symptoms
• perceived confidence in health care and professionals
• etc.

THE EUROPEAN DIMENSION

Consumption levels and patterns differ between

• countries
• urban/rural
• health care settings and providers

Attitudes towards the use of mood-modifying medicines may differ between

• counties
• population groups

MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM

• Anthropology
• Clinical pharmacology
• Social pharmacy
• Health policy
• Family medicine
• Sociology
• Public health

RESEARCH QUESTIONS RE. USERS'

• Choices & strategies
• Perceptions
• Experiences
• Communication with professionals and network

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