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General practitioner practice-based pharmacist input to medicines optimisation in the UK: pragmatic, multicenter,
Nadia Farhanah Syafhan1,2, Sayer Al Azzam1,3, Steven D Williams4,5
1Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice
|January 5, 2021
Summary
GP pharmacists significantly reduced medication-related problems (MRPs) and healthcare costs for at-risk patients. This intervention improved medication appropriateness and reduced consultations, demonstrating cost-effectiveness in primary care.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Health Services Research
- Primary Care Medicine
- Medication Management
Background:
- UK general practitioners (GPs) face increasing numbers of older patients with multi-morbidity and polypharmacy.
- National Health Service initiatives support pharmacist integration into GP practices.
- This study evaluates a pharmacist-led intervention for patients at risk of medication-related problems (MRPs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of a medicines optimisation intervention delivered by practice-based pharmacists.
- To evaluate the effect of this intervention on patient outcomes.
- To determine the impact on healthcare costs for patients at risk of MRPs.
Main Methods:
- A multi-centre, randomised controlled study across four UK regions.
- 356 adult patients at risk of MRPs participated with a 6-month follow-up.
- Comparison between normal care and pharmacist-supplemented care groups.
Main Results:
- Median MRPs reduced from 3 to 0.5 in the intervention group (p < 0.001).
- Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) scores improved significantly in the intervention group (p = 0.001).
- Overall healthcare costs per patient decreased in the intervention group (p = 0.032), with a positive QALY gain.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacist services effectively reduced MRPs and medication inappropriateness in general practice.
- The intervention proved to be a cost-effective approach to managing complex patient needs.
- Practice-based pharmacists play a key role in optimising medication and improving patient outcomes.
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