Pharmacist consultations in general practice clinics: the Pharmacists in Practice Study (PIPS)

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Practice
• Primary Health Care
• Medication Management

Background:

• Medication-related problems (MRPs) pose a significant challenge in primary care.
• Community pharmacists can address MRPs but face limitations due to lack of physician partnership and patient record access.
• Integrating pharmacists into general practice clinics in Australia is uncommon.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of primary care-based pharmacist consultations.
• To evaluate the impact on medication-related problems and adherence.

Main Methods:

• Prospective before-after intervention study at two Australian primary health care clinics.
• Pharmacist consultations for patients with MRP risk factors, including medication review and patient education.
• Outcomes measured: number of MRPs, medication adherence, health service use, and patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• A median of 2 MRPs per patient were identified, reducing to 0 after pharmacist intervention (P < 0.001).
• Significant improvements in medication adherence were observed using Morisky and TABS scales (P = 0.023 and P = 0.019, respectively).
• Patient satisfaction was high, with no significant change in health service use.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacists located within primary care clinics effectively identify and resolve MRPs.
• These integrated consultations improve medication adherence and are well-received by patients.
• This model demonstrates potential for enhancing primary care medication safety.