Impact of pharmaceutical reforms on non-prescription medication management in post-natal women following discharge from hospital

Background: Pharmaceutical reforms were introduced to South Australia in 2007 and resulted in significant changes to the provision of medications on discharge for postnatal women. Women are required to pay for each medication provided on discharge, where previously these were free of charge. Aim: To determine whether postnatal women discharged from the Women's and Children's Hospital purchased recommended non-prescription medications. Method: Postnatal women who delivered over a 3-week period (May to June 2010) completed a short questionnaire during a home visit by a midwife in the days following discharge. The questionnaire collected data on demographics, as well as on medications supplied on discharge, whether non-prescription medications were recommended to be purchased post-discharge and whether these medications were purchased. Results: 70 questionnaires were returned and analysed (response rate 30%). 110 non-prescription medications were recommended for purchase post-discharge; 42 were not purchased because they were present at home. Of the remainder, 42 (62%) were purchased and 26 (38%) were not purchased. The most common reason for medications not being purchased was that it was no longer required (59%). Medications purchased most often included iron (83%) and vitamin D (100%), while those purchased least often included urinary alkalinisers (33%) and fibre supplements (44%). Conclusion: Pharmaceutical reforms do not appear to have had an adverse impact on non-prescription medication management in postnatal women. The majority of nonprescription medications were purchased as recommended post-discharge.