Trine Graabæk

Aims: Users of semaglutide for weight management (SEMA‐WM) may not follow the recommended treatment regimen. We investigated SEMA‐WM treatment patterns among Danish adult users. Methods: A questionnaire‐based survey was conducted across 28 Danish community pharmacies between March and May 2025. Adults redeeming a SEMA‐WM prescription were invited to participate, with first‐time users invited to a follow‐up survey after 6 months. Results: Of 1470 individuals invited, 767 (52%) completed the questionnaire. Forty‐five percent used 1 mg as their current dose, and 8% expected to reach 2.4 mg. Ten percent reported dosing SEMA‐WM by “counting clicks” on the injection pen, in contrast with official prescribing guidelines. Users treated for 1–3 months reported a median weight loss of 6% (IQR 3–7), increasing to 12% (IQR 9–14), 17% (IQR 12–21), and 20% (IQR 15–26) for those treated for 3–6 months, 6–12 months, and > 1 year, respectively. Weight loss by treatment duration was similar among 1 mg users. Twenty‐four percent reported reduced/discontinued concomitant medication use following SEMA‐WM initiation, especially for muscle/joint pain (30%) and antihypertensives (24%). Reduced/discontinued medication use was similar among 1 mg users. Among 42 first‐time users, 83% were still using SEMA‐WM after 6 months, usually 1 mg (60%). Among users who had discontinued treatment (17%), side effects were the most reported reason. Conclusions: Many SEMA‐WM users remained on 1 mg and reported weight loss and medication reductions similar to the overall cohort. Findings indicate that some users appear to obtain the desired effect at 1 mg, underscoring the need for better guidance on individualized treatment trajectories.

Background: The autonomy of children in medication use has increased globally, with many children using medicines without parental awareness. Children‘s knowledge about medication, however, is often inadequate. With education on medication limited in elementary schools in many countries, including in Denmark, community pharmacists may play a crucial role in enhancing medication knowledge among children. In the national Danish project School Medicines Theme Day (SMT intervention), community pharmacists, in cooperation with teachers, spent a full day teaching primary school students (4th to 6th grade) about safe medication use through hands-on activities. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate primary school students’ long-term knowledge about medication and handling of medication before and 1–2 months after the SMT intervention. We hypothesized that increased knowledge would lead to safer and more appropriate medication handling by the students. Methods: A survey (comprising 12 items) was distributed to the 81 primary school classes participating in the SMT intervention between 2023 and 2024, with a pre-intervention (Survey 1) and a post-intervention survey (Survey 2). Data analysis was conducted at class level by the use of a nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test to evaluate changes in students’ responses, with a significance level set at 5%. Results: The response rates were 100% for Survey 1 (1,394 students) and 88% for Survey 2 (949 students). Significant improvements in students’ knowledge about medication and its handling were observed for 9 out of 12 items, indicating a lasting effect of the SMT intervention. No significant change was noted for the 2 items related to scientific concepts in the Danish curriculum. Conclusion: The SMT intervention led by community pharmacists significantly improved primary school students’ knowledge about medication months after the intervention. A broader implementation of such activities could enhance long-term medication literacy and safe handling practices among students.

Background: Patient safety is at risk during the transition of care, and a lack of information about medications at hospital discharge could be a contributing factor. To be adherent, many patients request more information about their medication treatment. Objective: My Medication Plan aims to involve patients and patient representatives as co-designers in developing a tool to meet these information needs. Methods: A framework for the Designing Thinking model involving patients and patient representatives was applied. During the inspiration phase, patients’ needs were explored by observing discharge conversations between patients and hospital physicians, followed by an information conversation between the patient and the first author (MS). Patient representatives were invited to participate in the ideation phase to generate ideas and designs for My Medication Plan. Results: Twelve patients and three patient representatives were included in the inspiration- and ideation phases. Among the patients, the most frequent themes during the discharge conversations were medication and medication changes. Least frequent theme was disease prevention. The patient representatives discussed the importance of My Medication Plan being a non-electronic tool with additional pages to document non-prescription medications and boxes for free text. Furthermore, a glossary over medical terms was added in My Medication Plan for explanation. To ensure patient safety the already existing Shared Medication Record given to patient was combined with My Medication Plan. Conclusion: My Medication Plan was developed as a non-electronic tool consisting of a print of the Shared Medication Record and specific documents sharing important medication-related information. Patients and patients’ representatives becoming co-designers are innovative, as the inclusion of both patients and patients’ representatives is innovative as both groups present different perspectives.

Individuals using semaglutide for weight loss constitute a new, sizeable patient group, yet limited qualitative research of this group exists. Therefore, we explored their perspectives, including motivation for treatment, attitudes towards the medication and experiences with its use. Semistructured interviews with seven individuals (five women, average age 50 years, average treatment duration 9 months) were conducted, audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using systematic text condensation. We identified three themes: ‘I have absolutely run out of options’, ‘I am lucky to have a cooperative doctor’ and ‘It's the feeling of being normal’. Using semaglutide for weight loss was considered a life‐changing event, as most respondents were concerned about declining physical health due to overweight. Most showed strong autonomy in managing their treatment, including delaying dose increases, reducing the dose or taking individual doses by ‘counting clicks’. Our data suggest a need for more support from healthcare professionals to guide individuals using semaglutide for weight loss, particularly in dosing, monitoring and managing side effects, with an emphasis on individualized and holistic care. Further research on individuals' perspectives related to weight loss and semaglutide use is needed to maintain and improve individuals' quality of life.Summary: More people are using semaglutide to lose weight, but we still know little about their experiences. To learn more, we interviewed seven users. Many saw the treatment as life‐changing, having struggled with overweight and concerns about their health. It was important to them to manage the dose themselves. Some delayed increasing the dose or took less than recommended by ‘counting clicks’. Our findings show that people using semaglutide for weight loss need more support from healthcare professionals—especially with dosing, side effects and personal guidance. More research is needed to better support these users and improve their quality of life.

Background Narrative medicine is a recent cross-disciplinary approach which through aesthetic activities such as reading fiction and creative writing aims to encourage empathy, reflection, professionalism, and trustworthiness in the encounter between patients and health care professionals. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in level of empathy after a postgraduate course in narrative medicine among pharmacists conducting medication counselling. Method During 2020–2021, three courses in narrative medicine among pharmacists with the aim to enhance empathy were held in Odense, Denmark. The primary outcome was the pharmacists’ self-reported level of empathy before and after the course measured with Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE), which is a validated 20 item scale with higher scores indicating higher levels of cognitive empathy. Results A total of 33 community and hospital pharmacists participated in the three courses. The pharmacists’ median age was 41 years, 91% were female, 76% were working in community pharmacy, and 47% were, according to themselves, rare readers. The pharmacists completed the JSE scale before and after the course. A statistically significant increase was found in mean total JSE score from 109.9 ± 17.1 before the course to 115.7 ± 14.6 after the course (p = 0.0362). Conclusion Following the course in narrative medicine the level of empathy for the pharmacists according to JSE was enhanced. We recommend that future studies also use patient-reported outcomes to explore if the self-experienced enhanced empathy among pharmacists affects the patients’ experience of their encounters.

Background Narrative medicine is a recent cross-disciplinary approach aiming to encourage empathy, reflection, professionalism, and trustworthiness through aesthetic activities such a reading fiction and creative writing. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate if a post-graduate course in narrative medicine affects the level of empathy among pharmacists. Method During 2020–2021, three courses in narrative medicine were evaluated in Odense, Denmark. The primary outcome was the pharmacists’ self-reported level of empathy measured with Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE). Results A total of 33 community and hospital pharmacists participated in the three courses. The pharmacists’ median age was 41 years, 91% were female, 76% were working at community pharmacy, and 47% were, according to themselves, rare readers. A statistically significant increase was found in mean total JSE score from 109.9 +/- 17.1 before the course to 115.7 +/- 14.6 after the course (p = 0.0362). Conclusion Following the course in narrative medicine the level of empathy for the pharmacists according to JSE was enhanced. We recommend that future studies also use patient-reported outcomes to explore if the self-experienced enhanced empathy among pharmacists reaches the patients’ confidence and well-being.

Use of medications of questionable benefit is common in end of life care. In order to effectively carry out deprescribing, it is important to gain insight into the perspectives of patients and their relatives. Thus, our objective was to explore perspectives on deprescribing among older adults with limited life expectancy and their relatives. We conducted semi‐structured interviews with ten nursing home residents and nine relatives. Interviews were analysed using systematic text condensation. Four main themes were identified: “Medication as a necessity and to feel well,” “Frailty as a barrier for taking responsibility,” “Patient autonomy and faith in authority” and “A wish for being involved.” Most participants had not considered the possibility of deprescribing but were open towards medication change if proposed by a healthcare professional. Most participants did not have in‐depth knowledge about medication but would like to be informed or involved in decisions. The participants generally had faith in healthcare professionals despite limited contact. Our study implies that older adults with limited life expectancy and their relatives are generally interested in deprescribing activities; however, the initiative of deprescribing lies with the healthcare professionals.