Self-assessment tool for screening patients at risk for drug therapy problems

To describe the development, use, and evaluation of a patient self-assessment tool for screening patients at risk for drug therapy problems (DTPs) and potentially interested in receiving a personal consultation with a pharmacist.

Quasi-experimental, nonrandomized, controlled study.

Area Agency on Aging-affiliated senior centers in Florida from April 2005 to December 2005.

175 clients of an Area Agency on Aging.

While attending a free seminar on obtaining the best value from their medications, participants completed a 12-item self-assessment tool. The tool was designed to (1) identify participants who were at risk for a DTP and (2) motivate those at risk to participate in a personal pharmacotherapy consultation with a pharmacist on a fee-for-service basis.

Relationship between total score on self-assessment tool and patient acceptance of offer of personal pharmacotherapy consultation.

Of 175 participants who attended a free seminar, 69 (39.4%) accepted the offer of a personal pharmacotherapy consultation. The median score on the self-assessment tool in these participants was significantly higher compared with participants who declined a consultation (3 vs. 1, P = 0.0489). The number of DTPs eventually identified during the personal pharmacotherapy consultation was significantly and positively correlated with the total score on the self-assessment tool (ρ = 0.3259, P = 0.0110).

The self-assessment tool appeared to be of use in predicting individuals who were likely to accept the offer of a personal consultation. Higher scores on the self-assessment tool may also predict patients who are likely to have a higher number of DTPs.