Methodological-Theoretical approach to phenomenological studies on the experience of medication use: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: The study of medication use should include pharmacological, family, and social dimensions to explain how the lived experiences, beliefs, and perceptions of everyone, and their social and cultural environ- ment affects consumption, using for this purpose the qualitative approach. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the theoretical-methodological approaches to phenomenology to identify studies that allow an understanding of patients’ experiences with the use of medications.a. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines to identify studies that address phenomenological research on patients’ experiences of medications used and to apply them in subse- quent studies. A thematic analysis was performed using ATLAS.ti software to facilitate data management. Results: Twenty-six articles were identified, most of them including adult patients diagnosed with chronic degenerative diseases. The semantic network obtained places Phenomenology at the center as the interpretative referential framework, with three theoretical approaches: descriptive, interpretative, and perceptual under the philosophies of Husserl, Heidegger, and Merleau-Ponty respectively; two techniques to collect data which are in- depth interview and focus groups; and to explore the life experiences of patients and understand the meaning in the context of their lives, thematic analysis, content analysis, and interpretative phenomenological analysis were identified. Conclusions: It was evidenced that Qualitative Research approaches, methodologies, and techniques are appli- cable to describe people’s experiences towards the use of medications. Phenomenology constitutes a useful referential framework in qualitative research to explain the experiences and perceptions about the disease and the use of medicines.