Integrated Internet-Based Pharmaceutical Care and Its Association with Clinical Outcomes and Medication Adherence in...

To compare clinical outcomes, quality of life (QoL), medication behaviors, and readmission risk between older adults with multimorbidity receiving integrated Internet-based pharmaceutical care and those receiving conventional pharmaceutical care.

This prospective observational study enrolled 196 older adults with multimorbidity who received either conventional or integrated Internet-based pharmaceutical care according to the service model in routine practice. After 6 months, BG and BP control rates, hospitalization rates, and patient satisfaction were compared. Frailty, health-related quality of life, medication self-management, and adherence were assessed using the FRAIL scale, EQ-5D/EQ-VAS, SEAMS, and ARMS-12, respectively. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between care model and 12-month readmission.

At the 6-month follow-up, the integrated Internet-based pharmaceutical care group had significantly higher BG and BP control rates and patient satisfaction than the conventional care group (P < 0.05). The integrated Internet-based care group also had lower FRAIL scores and higher EQ-5D and EQ-VAS scores. SEAMS scores were significantly higher, and ARMS scores were significantly lower in the Internet-based care group (P < 0.001). The integrated Internet-based pharmaceutical care model was significantly associated with a lower risk of 12-month readmission (OR = 0.424, 95% CI: 0.203-0.884, P = 0.022).

Integrated Internet-based pharmaceutical care was associated with favorable medication-related and clinical outcomes in older adults with multimorbidity. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and clarify their generalizability.