Clinical pharmacists’ reported approaches and processes for undertaking Home Medicines Review services: A national survey

Introduction: Comprehensive medicines reviews are a strategy to reduce medicines-related harm. In Australia, Home Medicines Review services (HMRs) are provided by consultant pharmacists to community-dwelling consumers, on referral from the consumer's medical practitioner. Limited research exists on the processes undertaken by consultant pharmacists when delivering HMRs, particularly as it relates to the information types received, collected, and reported. 

Objective: Describe the types of information consultant pharmacists report receiving in HMR referrals, collect before and during consumer consultations, and include in their written reports. 

Materials and Methods: We conducted a national online survey of Australian consultant pharmacists who deliver HMRs. Participants were recruited using a broad advertising strategy, including social and traditional media platforms, and snowballing. Data were analysed descriptively. 

Results: Of the 248 eligible participants, 179 (72%) completed the survey. The most commonly included information in the referral was medication list (97%), the least were details of hospitalisations (8%) and specialist letters (5%). Information pertaining to hospitalisation and specialist letters were collected by 20% of participants prior to the consultation. Details of, and history from, community pharmacy was the most sought information prior to consultations. Less than a quarter of participants ‘most of the time’ or ‘always’ formally assess adherence using a validated instrument during the consultation. Participants commonly (80%) report consumer concerns in the written report. 

Conclusions: Consultant pharmacists collect a broad variety of information, beyond medicines-related content. Written HMR reports by consultant pharmacists were often reported to be consumer-centric.