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Impact of pharmacy services on initial clinical outcomes and medication adherence among veterans with uncontrolled diabetes.
- Source :
-
BMC health services research [BMC Health Serv Res] 2018 Nov 14; Vol. 18 (1), pp. 855. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Nov 14. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Background: Diabetes remains a growing public health threat but evidence supports the role that pharmacists can play in improving diabetes medication use and outcomes. To improve the quality of care, the Veterans Health Administration has widely adopted care models that integrate clinical pharmacists, but more data are needed to interpret the impact of these services. Our objective was to assess clinical pharmacy services' impact on outcomes and oral antidiabetic medication (OAD) use among veterans with uncontrolled diabetes in the first year of therapy.<br />Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis using the Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse to identify the first diagnosis of and initiation of OAD therapy for uncomplicated, uncontrolled diabetes (A1C > 7.0%) during 2002-2014. Receipt of clinical pharmacy services was identified using codes within VA electronic health records, and clinical values were obtained at or near the initial fill date and 365 days later. Use of OADs was assessed by proportion of days covered (PDC) for one year following the first filled prescription. Veterans having received clinical pharmacy services were matched 1:1 to those having not seen a clinical pharmacist in the first year of therapy, and generalized linear models assessed changes and differences in outcomes.<br />Results: The analysis included 5749 patients in each cohort. On average, patients saw a clinical pharmacist 2.5 times throughout the first year of OAD therapy. Adherence to OAD medications was higher in veterans having seen a pharmacist (84.3% vs. 82.4%, p < 0.0001) and more such patients achieved a PDC of at least 80% (72.2% vs. 68.2%, p < 0.0001). After one year of OAD therapy, mean change in hemoglobin A1C was greater among those receiving pharmacy services (- 1.5% vs. -1.4%, p < 0.0001).<br />Conclusion: Pharmacist participation in diabetes patients' primary care positively affects the multifaceted needs of patients with this condition and comorbid chronic disease.
- Subjects :
- Aged
Diabetes Mellitus blood
Epidemiologic Methods
Female
Glycated Hemoglobin metabolism
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pharmacists organization & administration
Pharmacists statistics & numerical data
Pharmacy Service, Hospital organization & administration
Primary Health Care statistics & numerical data
Professional-Patient Relations
United States
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans statistics & numerical data
Diabetes Mellitus drug therapy
Hypoglycemic Agents therapeutic use
Medication Adherence
Pharmacy Service, Hospital statistics & numerical data
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1472-6963
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMC health services research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30428877
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3665-x