Having pharmacists involved directly in patient care teams could be key to improving outcomes, according to a review of almost 300 studies.
The US-based meta-analysis revealed patients experienced “largely favourable” results in terms of lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol and better glycaemic control when pharmacists were involved.
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Lead researcher and head of the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, Dr Marie Chisholm-Burns said the study showed pharmacists should play a bigger role in direct patient care and not simply dispense medications.
“Favourable results were found in therapeutic and safety outcomes, and meta-analyses for haemoglobin A1c, LDL cholesterol, blood pressure and adverse drug events were significant, favouring pharmacists’ direct patient care over comparative services.
“Results for humanistic outcomes were favourable with variability; medication adherence, patient knowledge and quality of life were [also] significant, favouring pharmacists’ direct involvement,” she said.
The combined data analysis showed nearly a two per cent improvement in haemoglobin A1c levels in patients with diabetes, while direct pharmacist care led to more than a 6 mg/dL reduction in LDL cholesterol in patients with high cholesterol and an average 8/3 mm Hg reduction in blood pressure in patients with hypertension.
The results also showed the rates of adverse drug reactions fell by almost 50 per cent when pharmacists were part of a health care team, with medication errors decreasing significantly as well.
Dr Chisholm-Burns said the results showed a team-based approach to the health care involving doctors, nurses and other health professionals, including pharmacists was beneficial to patient outcomes.
“Pharmacist-provided direct patient care has favourable effects across various patient outcomes, health care settings and disease states.
“Incorporating pharmacists as health care team members in direct patient care is a viable solution to help improve health care,” she concluded.
