Pharmacist-led diabetes service is honoured
A pharmacist-led initiative that has improved diabetes management for patients from ethnic minorities has won an award.
Led by Alia Gilani, prescribing support pharmacist, and Richard Lowrie,
lead clinical pharmacist, Greater Glasgow Primary Care Division, the
idea behind the initiative is to make the first contact between the health
service and the patient more culturally acceptable to the patient.
Urdu is the main language spoken by
South Asian patients in Glasgow. This population is at particular risk
of developing type 2
diabetes and of experiencing complications. Therefore, two Urdu-speaking
pharmacists and an Urdu-speaking administrator were
appointed to the scheme. The administrator’s role is to target
those patients with diabetes to arrange an appointment for a medication
review with one of the pharmacists. During the review, the pharmacist
also provides
information to improve patients’ knowledge of their condition and,
if required, refers them to other health care providers such as podiatrists
and GPs or to secondary care.
Results show that patients are positive about the service, with 75 per
cent describing the review as “very helpful”. None said that
it was unhelpful. The majority commented that being able to talk in Urdu
made it easier to gain information about their medicines. Of the 319
reviews carried out so far, 92 per cent have resulted in the pharmacist
making at least one clinical recommendation to the
patient’s GP and 98 per cent of the recommendations have been implemented.
Mr Lowrie commented: “As a result of the service, patients’ access
to the health service has improved, they have more knowledge about diabetes
and they have a more positive attitude towards its management. In addition,
prescribing has been improved so that it is more in line with evidence-based
recommendations.” He added that future developments will include
work with Glasgow central mosque and extending the service to other marginalised
communities.
The award, £2,000, was made for team-based innovation in diabetes
care by the
journal Practical Diabetes International. It was open to all health care
professionals. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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