Recall of A1C,blood pressure,and cholesterol levels among community pharmacy patients with diabetes

ObjectivesTo determine the proportion of patients with diabetes mellitus who knew their personal and target glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C), blood pressure, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (ABC) levels and the proportion of patients whose recalled ABC levels were below targets set by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).DesignCross-sectional survey.Setting35 community and clinic pharmacies in May 2003 through May 2004.Participants132 student pharmacists in Ambulatory Pharmaceutical Care Clerkship who recruited a convenience sample of 816 evaluable patients with diabetes.InterventionStudent-administered questionnaires.Main outcome measuresPatients’ self-reported and target ABC values and comparison of these with recommended ADA guidelines.ResultsThe greatest number of patients were able to recall their personal blood pressure level (68%), followed by A1C (53%) and LDL-C (23%). Of those who knew their levels, one-half or fewer were within ADA targets for one or more ABCs. Only 1% of patients who were able to provide ABC levels were below all three ADA target values. Patients were most likely to provide an A1C target (43%), followed by blood pressure (35%) and LDL-C (21%).ConclusionsWhile almost three-quarters of the patients identified in community pharmacies knew their blood pressure levels, one-half or fewer knew their A1C or LDL-C levels. Fewer than 50% of patients reported even one ABC target number. Pharmacists should take advantage of this educational opportunity by working with patients with diabetes to increase their knowledge of these ABCs.