Exploring the Lived Experiences and Personal Meanings of Long-Term Pharmacological Therapy Among Patients with Chronic Illnesses

Abstract

Pharmacological therapy plays a crucial role in modern medicine, yet its human dimension the lived experience of patients undergoing long-term treatment remains insufficiently explored. Within this broader scientific context, understanding how individuals interpret their interaction with medication offers valuable insights into the psychological and existential aspects of pharmacological care. However, existing research has primarily relied on quantitative or descriptive methods, leaving unanswered how patients construct meaning from their engagement with pharmacological interventions. This study employs an interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA) to explore the essence of patients’ lived experiences with medication and to understand how pharmacological treatment shapes their sense of identity, autonomy, and wellbeing. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with twelve participants receiving long-term pharmacological therapy, and analyzed through iterative thematic interpretation to capture experiential meanings. Findings reveal that participants experience pharmacological therapy as both a source of relief and ambivalence marked by embodied adaptation, moral negotiation, and redefinition of self. The study concludes that pharmacological experiences extend beyond biomedical effectiveness, reflecting an ongoing process of negotiation between the body, mind, and therapeutic trust. In practical terms, the study highlights the need for clinicians to adopt more patient-centered communication strategies, incorporate subjective meanings into treatment planning, and design supportive interventions that address the psychological and relational aspects of long-term medication use.