Provision of pharmaceutical care to patients with limited English proficiency.

PURPOSE: A study was conducted to evaluate the current practices of pharmacists in ambulatory care clinics in communicating with and providing pharmaceutical care to patients who have limited English proficiency. METHODS: Semistructured surveys were used to gather data from 16 pharmacists and 8 physicians from 15 ambulatory care clinics in metropolitan Toronto. The survey examined pharmacists' knowledge about the linguistic services, policies, and guidelines in their ambulatory care practice settings; the strategies that pharmacists and physicians use to communicate with patients with limited English proficiency; the challenges pharmacists face when providing pharmaceutical care to those patients; the drug-related problems observed by pharmacists and physicians; and how pharmacists and physicians can collaborate to resolve medication issues for those patients. RESULTS: Many pharmacists (69%) were unaware of existing institutional policies for communicating with patients with limited English proficiency. Language interpretation services in clinics were nonstandardized and did not always reflect practitioners' preferences. All aspects of pharmaceutical care were reported to be difficult to accomplish in patients with limited English proficiency. Pharmacists and physicians identified similar drug-related problems, with nonadherence being the most commonly observed drug-related problem. Strategies suggested by pharmacists and physicians to improve communication with patients involved proactively identifying language needs of patients before appointments, having translated medication information available and using trained language interpreters. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists at 15 ambulatory care clinics reported difficulty communicating with and providing pharmaceutical care to patients with limited English proficiency. Strategies suggested by pharmacists and physicians to enhance communication with those patients may help improve the quality of pharmaceutical care delivered.     

Pharmaceutical care in chain pharmacies: beliefs and attitudes of pharmacists and patients.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss with pharmacists and patients with reactive airways disease their beliefs about pharmaceutical care and the pharmacist's role in health care, obstacles to providing pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies, and strategies to overcome these obstacles. DESIGN: Two focus groups of patients, two focus groups of pharmacists. PARTICIPANTS: Thirteen patients with reactive airways disease and 11 chain pharmacists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Qualitative reports on the pharmacist's role in health care delivery and obstacles to implementing pharmaceutical care programs. RESULTS: Pharmacists wished to provide pharmaceutical care, and patients were supportive of pharmacists' involvement in their health care. Both viewed counseling as an important role for pharmacists and believed that pharmacists should work with patients' physicians. Reported obstacles included lack of time, inadequate privacy, and pharmacists' lack of direct access to patients' physicians. Pharmacists and patients believed pharmacists should have access to patient-specific clinical data. CONCLUSION: Focus groups provided valuable information for designing pragmatic pharmaceutical care. The obstacles and possible solutions identified through the discussions represent fertile ground for designing innovative pharmaceutical care programs.     

Pharmaceutical care research and education project: patient outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To compare patients' adherence to therapy, expectations, satisfaction with pharmacy services, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after the provision of pharmaceutical care with those of patients who received traditional pharmacy care. DESIGN: Randomized controlled cluster design. SETTING: Sixteen community pharmacies in Alberta, Canada. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Ambulatory elderly (> or = 65 years of age) patients covered under Alberta Health & Wellness's senior drug benefit plan and who were concurrently using three or more medications according to pharmacy profiles. INTERVENTION: Pharmacies were randomly assigned to either treatment (intervention) or control (traditional pharmacy care) groups. Patients at treatment pharmacies were recruited into the study, and pharmacists provided comprehensive pharmaceutical care services. Pharmacists at control pharmacies continued to provide traditional pharmacy care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Study participants' opinions, adherence to therapy, and scores on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: Compared with those of patients receiving traditional care, treatment patients' expectations that their pharmacist would perform activities congruent with pharmaceutical care changed over the study period. Treatment patients' satisfaction with the constructs "trust," "evaluation and goal setting," and "communicates with doctor" were also positively affected. HRQOL and patient adherence were not significantly affected by pharmaceutical care interventions. CONCLUSION: Successful implementation of a pharmaceutical care practice model has the potential to increase patients' satisfaction with their pharmacists' activities and may increase patients' expectations that pharmacists will work on their behalf to assist them with their health care needs. If pharmaceutical care affects patients' HRQOL, instruments more specific than the SF-36 may be needed to detect the differences.     

我国基层医疗机构药学服务现状及问题研究(三):药学服务开展现状分析

目的：通过调查分析了解我国基层医疗机构药学服务开展的基本情况，发现其中存在的问题并寻求改进措施。方法：以面对面访谈的形式发放调查表，对全国各地基层医疗机构开展药学服务的内容、医师药师对药学服务的态度、药学服务的需求以及患者的认可与满意度情况等进行统计、分析。结果：发药（91.1%）、患者用药咨询（90.0%）、处方审核（79.6%）和药品管理（78.7%）是基层医疗机构药师开展频率最高的药学服务工作；几乎所有的药师（98.7%）和医师（96.5%）都认为基层医疗机构需要药师提供药学服务，绝大多数医师（85.3%）会对药师的用药建议予以不同程度的采纳；大部分患者服药前会仔细阅读药品说明书（78.6%）和留意药品保质期（82.1%），约一半的患者会主动了解相关药物知识（55.6%）；患者在出现药物不良反应时咨询药师（13.7%）以及从药师处获取药物信息（11.0%）的比例偏低，接受药学服务相对不足；患者在医保报销比率（17.6%）、合理用药宣传（9.9%）和购药配药便利性（7.0%）方面的满意度相对欠缺。结论：我国基层医疗机构药学服务已有初步开展，具有一定的社会效益，但仍存在转变药师工作模式、提高药师与药学服务认可度以及满足患者更多服务需求等提升空间。     

Drug-related problems in Parkinson��s disease: the role of community pharmacists in primary care

Objective Although Parkinson??s disease is a common disorder in the elderly, there have been very few studies of the role of the pharmaceutical care services in detecting and reducing problems associated with drug treatment in community settings. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the type and frequency of drug-related problems identified in patients with Parkinson??s disease by community pharmacists over an 8-month period and to assess the pharmaceutical service interventions, the type and frequency of intervention outcomes and the clinical benefits for the patients. Setting Community pharmacies in Germany. Method Thirty-two community pharmacists recruited 113 outpatients with idiopathic Parkinson??s disease who were receiving anti-Parkinsonian medication. Main outcome measure Drug-related problems. Results A total of 331 drug-related problems were identified by the pharmacists. Patients not receiving a medication, despite the presence of an indication or symptom, accounted for the highest proportion of drug-related problems (26.3%). The pharmacists proposed a total of 474 interventions, the most common of which was giving the patient treatment advice (19.6%). Intervention outcomes were recorded for 215 of the 331 drug-related problems, for which there were 553 individual outcome results. Adjustments of the drug regimen accounted for the highest percentage of individual results (43.6%). Conclusion Structured pharmaceutical care processes by community pharmacists have the potential to make a valuable contribution to health care and enhance the health outcomes of patients with Parkinson??s disease.     

异位妊娠行甲氨蝶呤保守治疗患者药学监护流程的探讨

目的设计异位妊娠行甲氨蝶呤保守治疗患者药学监护流程,为临床药师开展相应药学监护模式提供参考。方法结合药学监护重点以及临床实际需求,建立异位妊娠行甲氨蝶呤保守治疗患者的药学监护流程,并实施相应的分级药学监护工作。结果临床药师建立了异位妊娠行甲氨蝶呤保守治疗患者药学监护流程,并且对26例患者实施相应的药学监护工作,在临床中取得较好的监护效果以及较高的患者满意率。结论临床药师开展药学监护工作,能有效关注到药物使用的各个环节,及时发现并解决潜在或实际的用药问题,保障患者用药安全。     

临床药师对肺栓塞患者的药学监护

 目的: 通过临床药师对患者实施药学监护,保障肺栓塞患者用药的安全有效。方法：临床药师对1例肺栓塞患者进行密切观察与随访,制订相应的药学监护措施,针对性提出用药建议。结果：通过药学监护,明显提高了肺栓塞患者用药的安全性、有效性,尽量避免了不良反应事件的发生。 结论：临床药师积极开展药学监护,协同临床医师优化给药方案,有利于患者的用药安全有效。     

临床药师对1例难治性肺炎支原体肺炎合并肺栓塞患儿的药学监护实践

目的：探讨临床药师在难治性肺炎支原体肺炎合并肺栓塞患儿治疗中的作用,为肺栓塞患儿的药物治疗及药学监护提供参考。方法：临床药师参与1例难治性肺炎支原体肺炎合并肺栓塞患儿的诊疗过程,协助临床医师调整治疗方案,同时对患儿进行个体化药学监护,针对重点药物进行用药宣教,从而保证疗效,降低不良反应发生率。结果：通过临床药师的药学监护实践,提高了肺栓塞患儿用药的安全性、有效性,尽量避免了不良反应事件的发生。结论：临床药师积极实施药学监护,协同临床医师优化治疗方案,有利于患儿的用药安全与有效。     

临床药师在带状疱疹临床路径中的药学监护

目的探讨临床药师在带状疱疹临床路径中的药学监护方法。方法采用实证案例研究方法,总结本院临床药师在带状疱疹临床路径选药方案、药物品种及特点、中西医综合处理措施方面实施的药学监护。结果临床药师通过参与临床路径,实施药学监护,提高了患者用药的依从性、安全性、有效性、经济性,并获得医、护、患的认可和满意。结论临床药师参与带状疱疹临床路径,为患者在抢先抗病毒、止痛、心理疏导、生活干预、阻止发生遗留带状疱疹后神经痛及神经和眼的相关并发症方面发挥了积极作用。另外,很好地拓展了临床药师参与临床诊治的空间。     

药学监护在联合吸入疗法治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者的应用

目的评价药学监护在联合吸入疗法治疗慢性阻塞性患者的影响。方法选取笔者所在医院2013-01~09间所收治的90例慢性阻塞性肺疾病血瘀型患者的临床诊治资料,根据住院单双号分为观察组和对照组2组。对照组给与一般观察,观察组由临床药师主导药学干预。考察指标包括气血分析、血液流变学指标测定、定期测试肺功能以及用药依从性。结果与对照组相比,观察组患者的治疗结果中的治愈率明显优于对照组（P〈0.01）,用药依从性显著增高（P〈0.05）,肝功能也显著提高（P〈0.05）。结论临床药师对在联合吸入疗法治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者进行全程化的药学干预,可改善患者的治疗效果、用药依从性、满意度,但药物不良事件的发生率差异无显著性。     

1例子宫内膜癌患者应用大剂量依托泊苷出现严重不良反应后的药学监护

目的:为临床更好地进行药学服务提供参考。方法:以1例子宫内膜癌患者应用大剂量依托泊苷出现严重不良反应为例,总结临床药师针对患者的具体病情及用药过程中出现的问题,进行药学干预、药学监护及患者教育。结果:患者安全度过化疗后的骨髓抑制时期。结论:临床药师能够为医护人员提供专业支持,并为肿瘤患者提供全程化的药学服务。     

临床药师在儿童过敏性紫癜治疗中的药学服务

目的:探讨临床药师如何为过敏性紫癜患儿提供药学服务。方法:临床药师通过对医师和护士进行用药干预、对患儿及 其家属进行用药知识宣教、制订过敏性紫癜标准化药学服务规范等多种形式开展药学服务。结果:临床药师的药学服务提高了 儿童过敏性紫癜临床用药的合理性及患儿的用药依从性。结论:临床药师可以利用自身优势,开展多种形式的药学服务,在儿 童过敏性紫癜治疗中发挥重要作用。     

Clinical and economic impact of ambulatory care clinical pharmacists in management of dyslipidemia in older adults: the IMPROVE study. Impact of Managed Pharmaceutical Care on Resource Utilization and Outcomes in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers

We examined the impact of ambulatory care clinical pharmacist interventions on clinical and economic outcomes of 208 patients with dyslipidemia and 229 controls treated at nine Veterans Affairs medical centers. This was a randomized, controlled trial involving patients at high risk of drug-related problems. Only those with dyslipidemia are reported here. In addition to usual medical care, clinical pharmacists were responsible for providing pharmaceutical care for patients in the intervention group. The control group did not receive pharmaceutical care. Seventy-two percent of the intervention group and 70% of controls required secondary prevention according to the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines. Significantly more patients in the intervention group had a fasting lipid profile compared with controls (p=0.021). The absolute change in total cholesterol (17.7 vs 7.4 mg/dl, p=0.028) and low-density lipoprotein (23.4 vs 12.8 mg/dl, p=0.042) was greater in the intervention than in the control group. There were no differences in patients achieving goal lipid values or in overall costs despite increased visits to pharmacists. Ambulatory care clinical pharmacists can significantly improve dyslipidemia in a practice setting designed to manage many medical and drug-related problems.     

Pharmaceutical care: pharmacy's mission for the 1990s

The case for pharmaceutical care as pharmacy's mission for the 1990s is presented. The emergence of pharmacy as a clinical profession has given pharmacists the skills and knowledge to improve the outcomes of drug therapy. It also presents them with the responsibility for those results. Practitioners of pharmaceutical care are concerned with the effect of their services on patients' quality of life and not merely with the act of providing services. They work with other health-care professionals as equals to ensure that therapeutic goals are achieved and that drug-related illness does not occur or is quickly detected and resolved. To be accepted and implemented, pharmaceutical care must first overcome pharmacy's product- and service-oriented focus, opposition from other health-care professions and drug manufacturers, financial and logistical problems, and ignorance and inertia among pharmacists themselves. Through a united effort, pharmacy organizations, schools, and individual pharmacists can translate the need for pharmaceutical care into demands for it by patients, insurance companies, health maintenance organizations, and the government. Pharmaceutical skills and knowledge have developed to the point where pharmacists must share in responsibility for the outcomes of drug therapy.     

Tools used to help community pharmacists implement comprehensive pharmaceutical care

OBJECTIVE: To describe the tools and processes used in the practice enhancement program (PEP) of the Pharmaceutical Care Research and Education Project to enable community pharmacists to acquire the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes to deliver comprehensive pharmaceutical care to elderly ambulatory patients. SETTING: Independent community pharmacies in Alberta. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: The PEP was designed to allow self-directed learning in a problem-based environment. The intent was for pharmacists to apply the knowledge they gained to improve drug therapy outcomes. PRACTICE INNOVATION: As a systematic approach to providing care, several tools were adapted to help pharmacists execute tasks required by the nine steps of the pharmaceutical care process proposed by Helper and Strand. These tools and processes facilitated (1) self-directed learning about diseases and drugs, (2) acquisition of relevant patient data, (3) a consistent and stepwise approach to the identification and resolution of drug-related problems, (4) documentation of care provided, and (5) continuity of care. RESULTS: To help pharmacists in the PEP acquire the necessary competency to provide pharmaceutical care, they were required to use the tools and processes described herein to work up and resolve patient problems. Initially, patient problems were presented as paper cases covering a range of acute and chronic problems, including topics applicable to geriatric patients. This was followed by a practicum phase wherein patient problems represented individuals from among their clientele. CONCLUSION: The tools and processes used in the project increased community pharmacists' competency for providing pharmaceutical care, by helping them develop the needed skills, knowledge, and attitudes.     

四例氯吡格雷致白细胞和中性粒细胞减少患者的药学服务

目的探讨临床药师在氯吡格雷致白细胞和中性粒细胞减少患者中如何提供药学服务。方法临床药师通过参与4例氯吡格雷导致的白细胞和中性粒细胞减少患者的治疗,根据药学相关知识及阅读相关文献,及时判断导致白细胞减少的可疑药物,并提供替代药物及对症治疗药物,通过定期血常规检查结果逐步调整治疗方案,并积极治疗原发病与伴发的感染,参与并监护患者用药的全过程。结果在临床医生和临床药师的共同合作下,4例患者的白细胞逐渐回升至基线水平,伴发感染与原发疾病也得到合理的治疗,患者病情好转后全部安全出院。结论临床药师要充分发挥自己药学专业的优势,在临床工作中及时辨别药物的不良反应,协助临床医生更好地使用药物,为患者提供更好的药学监护。     

药学服务对门诊高血压患者用药依从性和血压控制的影响

目的:探讨临床药师对门诊高血压患者合理用药干预的效果。方法:对76例用药依从性差的高血压患者每周进行1次面对面的药学服务,每次不少于15分钟,共进行4次,分析4周后患者用药依从性和血压达标情况的变化。结果:患者依从率从第1周的(48.99±22.90)%上升至第5周的(83.82±12.47)%(P<0.01);血压达标率由第1周的6.58%上升至第5周的51.32%(P<0.01)。结论:临床药师为门诊高血压患者开展药学服务,可使患者的用药依从性和血压控制得到明显改善。