Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme and management of hypertension

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this project was to assess pharmacist intervention in patients suffering from hypertension to improve management of their condition by identifying risk factors, evaluating side-effects, monitoring, assessing drug-drug interactions and providing advice to help control blood pressure. Method: Two questionnaires were used in the study; the first questionnaire intended to identify drug-related problems and risk factors and a second questionnaire was developed as a shorter version of the first questionnaire. The questionnaires were used on 3 occasions when the patients came to collect their Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) medications from a local community pharmacy. The first questionnaire was used at time=0 (visit 1) and the second questionnaire was used twice, at t=2 months (visit 2) and t=4 months (visit 3). Blood pressure and pulse readings were recorded each time and patients were referred in cases of abnormal readings and in cases of interactions or side-effects. Advice was given to the patients on all the 3 occasions and any care issues were addressed. Key findings: Out of the 35 patients who participated, initially 22 patients were hypertensive. This number decreased to 20 patients at t=2 months and 16 patients at t=4 months. Abnormal pulse readings were initially found in 7 patients that in the subsequent visits decreased to 4 patients with 2 patients being investigated. The need for patient referral decreased from 24 patients at t= 0, to 21 patients at t= 2 months and 17 at t= 4 months. Conclusion: Pharmacist intervention in patient monitoring of chronic conditions supported patients in managing their blood pressure. Several comorbidities and mortalities can be reduced when the patient is regularly monitored by a pharmacist and any drug-related problems identified, addressed and patient is referred as necessary.