Bennetts, Joshua, White, Jennifer, Croft, Hayley, Cooper, Joyce, McIvor, Dawn, Eadie, Nicholas, Appay, Marcelle, Sverdlov, Aaron L., and Ngo, Doan (2024) Pharmacist-led medication management services: a qualitative exploration of transition-of-care cardiovascular disease patient experiences. BMJ Open, 14 (5). e082228.

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Abstract

Objective: Hospitalisation due to medication-related problems is a major health concern, particularly for those with pre-existing, or those at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Postdischarge medication reviews (PDMRs) may form a core component of reducing hospital readmissions due to medication-related problems. This study aimed to explore postdischarge CVD patients’ perspectives of, and experiences with, pharmacist-led medication management services. A secondary aim explored attitudes towards the availability of PDMRs.

Design: An interpretative qualitative study involving 16 semistructured interviews. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach.

Setting: Patients with CVD discharged to a community setting from the John Hunter Hospital, an 820-bed tertiary referral hospital based in New South Wales, Australia.

Participants: Patients with pre-existing or newly diagnosed CVD who were recently discharged from the hospital.

Results: A total of 16 interviews were conducted to reach thematic saturation. Nine participants (56%) were male. The mean age of participants was 57.5 (±13.2) years. Three emergent themes were identified: (1) poor medication understanding impacts transition from the hospital to home; (2) factors influencing medication concordance following discharge and (3) perceived benefits of routine PDMRs.

Conclusions: There is a clear need to further improve the quality use of medicines and health literacy of transition-of-care patients with CVD. Our findings indicate that the engagement of transition-of-care patients with CVD with pharmacist-led medication management services is minimal. Pharmacists are suitable to provide essential and tailored medication review services to patients with CVD as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team. The implementation of routine, pharmacist-led PDMRs may be a feasible means of providing patients with access to health education following their transition from hospital back to community, improving their health literacy and reducing rehospitalisations due to medication-related issues.

Item ID:	83412
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2044-6055
Keywords:	CARDIOLOGY,Cardiovascular Disease,Hospital to Home Transition,Medication Reconciliation,Medication Review,Pharmacists
Copyright Information:	© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Additional Information:	Codes added WB 09.08.24
Date Deposited:	13 Aug 2024 01:49
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