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- Title
Social media group support for antidepressant deprescribing: a mixed-methods survey of patient experiences.
- Authors
Coe, Amy; Abid, Noor; Kaylor-Hughes, Catherine
- Abstract
Background: Antidepressant use has continually increased in recent decades and although they are an effective treatment for moderate-to-severe depression, when there is no longer a clinical benefit, deprescribing should occur. Currently, routine deprescribing is not part of clinical practice and research shows that there has been an increase in antidepressant users seeking informal support online. This small scoping exercise used a mixed-methods online survey to investigate the motives antidepressant users have for joining social media deprescribing support groups, and what elements of the groups are most valuable to them. Methods: Thirty members of two antidepressant deprescribing Facebook groups completed an online survey with quantitative and open-text response questions to determine participant characteristics and motivation for group membership. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and open-text responses were analysed thematically through NVivo. Results: Two overarching themes were evident: first, clinician expertise , where participants repeatedly reported a perceived lack of skills around deprescribing by their clinician, not being included in shared decision-making about their treatment, and symptoms of withdrawal during deprescribing going unaddressed. Motivated by the lack of clinical support, peer support developed as the second theme. Here, people sought help online where they received education, knowledge sharing and lived experience guidance for tapering. The Facebook groups also provided validation and peer support, which motivated people to continue engaging with the group. Conclusions: Antidepressant users who wish to cease their medication are increasingly subscribing to specialised online support groups due to the lack of information and support from clinicians. This study highlights the ongoing need for such support groups. Improved clinician understanding about the complexities of antidepressant deprescribing is needed to enable them to effectively engage in shared decision-making with their patients. Deprescribing of antidepressants is not routinely occurring in clinical practice, leading patients to seek help via other methods. Little is known about what role social media support groups play in a patient's journey when ceasing antidepressant medication. This is one of the first studies to gain insight from antidepressant users who are also members of two Facebook groups providing support for antidepressant deprescribing. Lack of clinical knowledge by clinicians is a big driver for patients help seeking from their peers.
- Subjects
SOCIAL media; SUPPORT groups; HEALTH literacy; MEDICAL personnel; QUALITATIVE research; MEDICAL care; DRUG therapy; HEALTH; INSOMNIA; DIZZINESS; DEPRESCRIBING; INTERNET; FACEBOOK (Web resource); QUANTITATIVE research; MEMBERSHIP; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; DECISION making; INFORMATION resources; CONFIDENCE; ANTIDEPRESSANTS; EXPERIENCE; MOTIVATION (Psychology); SURVEYS; THEMATIC analysis; RESEARCH methodology; CLINICAL competence; ONLINE education; DATA analysis software; EXPERTISE; COUNSELING; INTERPERSONAL relations
- Publication
Australian Journal of Primary Health, 2024, Vol 30, Issue 3, p1
- ISSN
1448-7527
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1071/PY23046