TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving osteoporosis management in general practice: A pharmacist-led drug use evaluation program
AU - Tan, Edwin Chin Kang
AU - George, Johnson
AU - Stewart, Kay
AU - Elliott, Rohan Andrew
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the
impact of a drug use evaluation (DUE) program on osteoporosis
management in general practice.
Methods A DUE program, led by pharmacists integrated
into two general practice clinics in Melbourne, Australia,
was undertaken as part of the Pharmacists in Practice
Study. Data on use of anti-osteoporosis medicines and
calcium and vitamin D supplements were collected at
baseline and 12 months. Following the baseline audit, an
intervention comprising prescriber feedback, group education
and individual case-conferences with prescribers,
and patient education mail-outs was implemented. The
primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a
diagnosis of osteoporosis and without contraindications to
anti-osteoporosis medicines who were prescribed an antiosteoporosis
medicine. Feedback from practice staff and
pharmacists was explored qualitatively to evaluate the
acceptability of the program.
Results The proportion of patients without documented
contraindications to osteoporosis therapies who were prescribed
an anti-osteoporosis medicine increased significantly
(134/227 [59.0 vs. 168/240 [70.0 ,
p = 0.002). The proportion of patients for whom vitamin D
and/or calcium supplement use was documented also
increased significantly (145/227 [63.9 vs. 205/240
[85.4 , p = 0.002). Practice staff and pharmacists were
generally positive about the DUE program.
Conclusions A practice pharmacist-led DUE program
improved the management of osteoporosis in general
practice.
AB - Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the
impact of a drug use evaluation (DUE) program on osteoporosis
management in general practice.
Methods A DUE program, led by pharmacists integrated
into two general practice clinics in Melbourne, Australia,
was undertaken as part of the Pharmacists in Practice
Study. Data on use of anti-osteoporosis medicines and
calcium and vitamin D supplements were collected at
baseline and 12 months. Following the baseline audit, an
intervention comprising prescriber feedback, group education
and individual case-conferences with prescribers,
and patient education mail-outs was implemented. The
primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a
diagnosis of osteoporosis and without contraindications to
anti-osteoporosis medicines who were prescribed an antiosteoporosis
medicine. Feedback from practice staff and
pharmacists was explored qualitatively to evaluate the
acceptability of the program.
Results The proportion of patients without documented
contraindications to osteoporosis therapies who were prescribed
an anti-osteoporosis medicine increased significantly
(134/227 [59.0 vs. 168/240 [70.0 ,
p = 0.002). The proportion of patients for whom vitamin D
and/or calcium supplement use was documented also
increased significantly (145/227 [63.9 vs. 205/240
[85.4 , p = 0.002). Practice staff and pharmacists were
generally positive about the DUE program.
Conclusions A practice pharmacist-led DUE program
improved the management of osteoporosis in general
practice.
UR - http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/254/art%253A10.1007%252Fs40266-014-0194-0.pdf?auth66=1425525413_a9c1a75f62a406ede5b62bb974d16a49&ext=.pdf
U2 - 10.1007/s40266-014-0194-0
DO - 10.1007/s40266-014-0194-0
M3 - Article
SN - 1170-229X
VL - 31
SP - 703
EP - 709
JO - Drugs & Aging
JF - Drugs & Aging
ER -