Medication Adherence: Can a Simple Review Make a Big Difference?
"Unpacking how pharmacotherapy reviews can empower hypertensive patients to take control of their health and improve medication adherence."
For adults managing hypertension, consistent medication is essential, and often involves multiple drugs to address the condition, reduce risk factors, and manage complications. However, this complexity can lead to a common challenge: low medication adherence, hindering effective blood pressure control and increasing the risk of complications.
Non-adherence to medication is a widespread issue, with the World Health Organization estimating that approximately 50% of patients forget to take their medications as prescribed. In Brazil, studies reveal that only about a third of hypertensive patients consistently adhere to their medication plans.
Pharmacotherapy review provides a potential solution. It's a structured assessment that fosters a collaborative partnership between patients and healthcare providers, ensuring treatment goals are understood, dosages are agreed upon, and administration schedules are clear. By focusing on improving medication adherence through optimized schedules, can pharmacotherapy reviews improve health outcomes for hypertensive patients?
How a Pharmacotherapy Review Works: A Step-by-Step Approach
A research study published in the Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences investigated the impact of pharmacotherapy reviews on medication adherence and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients. The study followed an uncontrolled intervention model, divided into three distinct stages:
- Stage 1: Initial Assessment: Researchers gathered data on patient demographics, medication history, daily routines, physical activity, diet, and stress levels. They assessed medication adherence using the Morisky-Green test and a self-evaluation scale. Blood pressure was also measured.
- Stage 2: Review and Intervention: Patients received a personalized pharmacotherapy review report, incorporating their daily routines. The report outlined optimized medication schedules and addressed potential drug-food interactions.
- Stage 3: Follow-Up Evaluation: After four to six weeks, researchers reassessed medication adherence using the Morisky-Green test, self-evaluation, and blood pressure measurements. They also gathered patient feedback on the review report and its impact on their adherence.
Key Findings and the Path Forward
The study revealed significant improvements in medication adherence, as measured by both the Morisky-Green test (p<0.001) and self-reported assessments (p=0.004). Furthermore, there was a notable improvement in blood pressure control, with significant reductions in both systolic (p<0.001) and diastolic (p=0.002) blood pressure levels, and an increased number of patients achieving controlled hypertension (p=0.006).
While the pharmacotherapy review enhanced medication adherence and blood pressure control, it also led to a slight increase in the complexity of treatment regimens. This highlights the importance of ongoing support and education to help patients manage their medication schedules effectively.
Pharmacotherapy reviews hold considerable promise for improving medication adherence and hypertension management. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of these interventions and to identify strategies for optimizing their implementation in community pharmacies. By empowering patients with knowledge and support, we can significantly improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of hypertension.