ArticleBMJ open2022
Effect of free medicine distribution on ability to make ends meet: post hoc quantitative subgroup analysis and qualitative thematic analysis.
Article in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02744963 (Carefully seLected and Easily Accessible at No Charge Medications), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Carefully seLected and Easily Accessible at No Charge Medications
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.
- Out-of-pocket prescription medicine expenditure amongst community-dwelling adults: Findings from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing (TILDA) in 2016.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesOut-of-pocket medication costs can contribute to financial insecurity and many Canadians have trouble affording medicines. This study aimed to determine if the effect of eliminating out-of-pocket medication costs on individual's financial security varied by gender, racialisation, income and location.
designIn this post hoc subgroup analysis of the CLEAN Meds trial, a binary logistic regression model was fitted and a qualitative inductive thematic analysis of comments related to participant's ability to make ends meet was carried out.
settingPrimary care patients in Ontario, Canada.
participantsAdult patients (786) who reported not being able to afford medicines during the previous 12 months.
interventionFree access to a comprehensive list of essential medicines for 24 months. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Ability to make ends meet or afford basic necessities.
resultsThere were no significant differences in the effect of free medicine distribution by gender (OR for male 0.82; 95% CI 0.51 to 1.33, p=0.76), age (older than 65 years OR 1.28; 95 % CI 0.62 to 2.64, p=0.73), racialisation (OR 0.85; 95 % CI 0.51 to 1.45, p=0.66), household income level (above US$30 000 per year OR 1.08; 95 % CI 0.64 to 1.80, p=0.99) or location (urban OR 0.47; 95 % CI 0.23 to 0.96, p=0.10). The main theme in the qualitative analysis was insufficient income, and there were three related themes: out-of-pocket medication expenses, cost-related non-adherence and the importance of medication coverage. In the intervention group, additional themes identified included improved health, functioning and access to basic needs.
conclusionsProviding free essential medications improved financial security across subgroups in a trial population who all had trouble affording medicines. Free access to medicines could improve health directly by improving medicine adherence and indirectly by making other necessities more accessible to people who have an insufficient income. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02744963.
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