Community-Based Pharmaceutical Care. Abstract, Executive Summary and Final Report

摘要

Pharmacists may improve patient outcomes by engaging in pharmaceutical careactivities. Using a randomized, controlled trial, the authors evaluated a pharmaceutical care program for 1,113 patients with asthma or chronic lung disease who filled prescriptions in 36 community pharmacies. Pharmacies were randomized to pharmaceutical care or one of two control groups (peak flow monitoring, usual care). Patients in the pharmaceutical care group received: recent patient-specific clinical data (peak flow rates, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, medications); customized patient educational materials; training; and resources to support pharmaceutical care. Patients in pharmaceutical care had significantly (p<0.05) higher peak flow rates compared to the usual care, but not peak flow monitoring, control group. Moreover, patients in the pharmaceutical care group were significantly more satisfied with both their pharmacists and health care. While significant improvements in both medication compliance and health-related quality of life were observed among patients receiving the pharmaceutical program, months, similar improvement was observed in both control groups.