Abstract

IMPACT OF COMMUNITY PHARMACIST-LED PATIENT COUNSELLING ON MEDICATION ADHERENCE IN PATIENTS ON POLYPHARMACY- A PROSPECTIVE SINGLE BLIND STUDY

Hansa P. M.*, Dr. T. Tamilselvan, Rajasree S., Vineetha, Dr. Arya Alocious and K. M. Safna

ABSTRACT

A prospective single-blind study (on a study group and control group) was conducted in 10 community pharmacies for a period of one year. Patient counselling was provided by the community pharmacists to the polypharmacy patients. Medication adherence was assessed by the MMAS-8 Questionnaire. A total of 10 community pharmacists and 103 polypharmacy patients were enrolled. The MMAS-8 score was found to be improved significantly in the study group (6.31±1.21 vs. 7.31±0.88 p<0.001) post counselling. The MMAS-8 score was found to be improved significantly in the study group compared with the control group (7.31±0.88 vs.6.35 ±1.15, p<0.05). To improve the patient counselling behaviors, BCTs were identified as necessary in eight TDF domains namely ‗knowledge‘, ‗interpersonal skills‘, ‗memory‘ ‗environmental context‘, ‗social influences‘, ‗intentions‘, ‗reinforcement‘, and ‗beliefs about capabilities‘. Seven BCTsincluding ‗education‘, ‗training‘, ‗modelling‘, ‗enablement‘, and ‗environmental restructuring‘, were also identified as relevant.

Keywords: Community pharmacists, patient counselling, Morisky medication adherence scale -8, Behavioural Change Techniques.