Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice

Role of pharmacist counseling in pharmacotherapy quality improvement

Authors

. Yalda Sanii 1
. Hassan Torkamandi 2
. Kheirollah Gholami 3
. Naser Hadavand 4
. Mohammadreza Javadi 3

1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Pharmaceutical Care Department, Dr. Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Research Centre for Rational Use of Drugs, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Objective: Hospitalization and subsequent discharge home often involve discontinuity 
of care, multiple changes in medication regimens, and inadequate patient education 
regarding the instruction of drug use, respiratory devices, and disease information 
and also lack of information about the drug’s side effects that can lead to medication 
nonadherence and low level of treatment satisfaction. Hence, we decided to design a 
study to determine the effect of patient counseling at discharge and also their follow‑up 
by pharmacist on their treatment satisfaction and medication adherence.
Methods: A total number of 154 patients within the age of 18–65 years old participated 
in the study from August 2013 to March 2014. Patients in the intervention group received 
pharmacist counseling and necessary education about their prescribed medications at 
discharge. We set up two follow‑up schedules for this group and one for control group, 
and then we compared the medication adherence and satisfaction in two groups. The 
primary outcome of this study was a significant increase in adherence to medication 
regimen and treatment satisfaction of the case group compare to control group after 
the intervention of pharmacist at the time of discharge.
Findings: There were significant differences in medication adherence and satisfaction 
between the groups at the time of second follow‑up. Medication adherence in the study group 
is 42.9% more than the control group, also the treatment satisfaction determined to be 33.5% 
more than patients in control group. Furthermore, we found that, in intervention group, 
no one is readmitted while among the patients in control group eight people readmitted.
Conclusion: Counseling patients at the time of discharge and regular follow‑up improves 
patient’s medication adherence and treatment satisfaction and consequently improves 
clinical outcomes.

Keywords

Medication counseling
patient’s education
respiratory diseases
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Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice
Volume 5, Issue 2
Spring 2016
Pages 132-137

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