Pharmacist telephone counselling can improve patient outcomes
Telephone counselling may increase patients’ awareness of
their conditions |
Periodic telephone counselling by a pharmacist improves compliance and
reduces mortality in patients receiving five or more drugs, a new study
reveals (BMJ
Online First).
The study was carried out in Hong Kong, which has a heavily subsidised
health care system. For each clinic visit, patients pay an average fee
of £7–£14, which includes any drug costs.
From 1,011 interviews with patients taking multiple drugs for chronic
conditions, 502 non-compliant patients were identified and invited to
take part in a randomised, controlled study. However, 60 of these patients
defaulted at the next clinic visit. Most patients were taking drugs for
cardiovascular diseases, and had an estimated annual mortality of 10
per cent.
Patients in the intervention group received a 10- to 15-minute telephone
call from the pharmacist, who asked about their treatment regimens, clarified
any misconceptions, explained the nature of any side effects, reminded
patients of their next clinic appointment, and reinforced the importance
of compliance with treatment and relevant aspects of self care such as
diet, exercise, and self monitoring.
After two years, 52 per cent of the defaulters, 17 per cent of the control
group, and 11 per cent of the intervention group had died. After adjusting
for various factors, telephone
counselling was associated with a 41 per cent reduction in the risk of
death (relative risk 0.59, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.35–0.97;
P=0.039). The researchers also found that the intervention group had
a lower use of health care resources than did the control group.
The authors claim the telephone calls triggered discussion about the
patient’s health and led to a greater awareness and a more proactive
role by patients and their carers towards their conditions. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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