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A community-pharmacy-based callback program for antibiotic therapy
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Pharmacy, USA.
Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (Washington, D.C. : 1996)
|May 1, 1997
Summary
A pharmacist-led telephone callback program effectively monitors patient progress and improves drug therapy outcomes. This inexpensive method helps identify issues like noncompliance and adverse effects, leading to better patient care.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Patient Care
- Health Outcomes Research
Background:
- Patient counseling at dispensing is crucial for medication adherence and therapeutic success.
- Reinforcing counseling through follow-up can address potential issues proactively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a telephone callback program for reinforcing patient counseling.
- To assess the impact of this program on drug therapy outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Pharmacists or students recorded patient and prescription details during dispensing.
- Follow-up phone calls were made to assess patient progress and identify problems.
Main Results:
- Telephone assessment of 521 patients showed 51.1% improved, while 15.1% worsened.
- Therapeutic failures (79) were attributed to repeated therapy, physician referral, noncompliance, or adverse effects.
Conclusions:
- A callback program is an effective and inexpensive tool for assessing drug therapy.
- This program can significantly improve patient outcomes and medication management.