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Tailored pharmacist-led intervention to improve adherence to Iron supplementation in premature infants: a randomized
Beimeng Yu1,2, Ming Ni1,3, Haijing Li1
1Shaoxing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China.
Insights
A pharmacist-led trial significantly improved iron levels and medication adherence in premature infants. This intervention also enhanced infant development, demonstrating the value of patient-centered care for preterm babies.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pharmacology
- Pediatric Nutrition
Background:
- Prematurity is a significant health concern, influenced by factors including genetics.
- Iron deficiency is common in premature infants, impacting their growth and development.
- Effective medication management is crucial for optimizing outcomes in preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led, patient-centered medication therapy management (MTM) trial.
- To assess the effects on iron deficiency and medication adherence in premature infants receiving iron supplementation.
- To investigate the influence of MTM on infant development.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 81 premature infants (26 to 30 weeks gestation).
- Intervention group received pharmacist-driven counseling on iron supplements until 12 months.
- Control group received standard care; outcomes included hemoglobin, serum iron, and developmental assessments.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in hemoglobin and serum iron levels in the intervention group compared to the control group.
- Enhanced medication adherence was observed in infants receiving pharmacist-led MTM.
- The intervention group showed better mental and psychomotor development index scores.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacist-led MTM significantly improves clinical outcomes, including iron status, in premature infants.
- Patient-centered medication management enhances medication adherence and developmental progress in preterm infants.
- This approach highlights the vital role of pharmacists in managing chronic conditions in vulnerable pediatric populations.
Introduction:
Prematurity is due to a number of factors, especially genetics. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led patient-centered medication therapy management trial on iron deficiency and medication adherence among premature infants receiving iron supplementation at a tertiary hospital in Shaoxing, China.
Methods:
In this randomised controlled trial, eighty-one premature infants, with or without genetic factors, born at 26 to 30 weeks and 6 days gestational age, will be recruited and randomised to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive a pharmacist-driven discharge counseling on iron supplements from recruitment, until 12 months. The control group will receive care as usual. The main outcomes were haemoglobin (g/L), serum iron (μg/L), medication adherence estimation and differentiation scale, the satisfaction with information about medicines scale, beliefs about medicines questionnaire and the Bayley scales for infant development.
Results:
A total of 81 patients were enrolled in the study. After intervention, results for the haemoglobin and serum iron differed significantly between the control group and the intervention group (101.36 vs. 113.55, P < 0.0001 and 51.13 vs. 101.36, P = 0.004). Additionally, there was a substantial difference between the intervention group and the control group in terms of patient medication adherence estimation and differentiation scale (27 vs. 34, P = 0.0002). the intervention group had better mental development index and psychomotor development index, compared with the control group (91.03 vs. 87.29, P = 0.035 and 95.05 vs. 90.00, P = 0.022).
Discussion:
In premature infants with iron deficiency, our pharmacist-led team significantly improved clinical outcomes and medication adherence.
