Caring for poorly controlled diabetes mellitus: a randomized pharmacist intervention

Can pharmaceutical care decrease the oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by an increase in oxidative stress, which is itself related to development of T2D's main chronic complications. Oxidative stress caused by elevated production of reactive species of oxygen and decrease of antioxidant defense system level, leads to activation of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and oxidative lipoprotein modification with increasing atherogenicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether pharmacotherapeutic follow-up in patients with T2D, users and non-users of insulin, interferes with the levels of oxidative stress, measuring lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase levels. After the follow-up, there was a decrease in nitric oxide levels and an increase in superoxide dismutase concentration for the group with insulin therapy. Accordingly, these results show that the proposed pharmaceutical care program reduced the oxidative stress levels, mainly in patients in insulin therapy, as a consequence, can impact in the surging of the main chronic complications in T2D.

Quality improvement strategies for diabetes care: Effects on outcomes for adults living with diabetes

BACKGROUND

There is a large body of evidence evaluating quality improvement (QI) programmes to improve care for adults living with diabetes. These programmes are often comprised of multiple QI strategies, which may be implemented in various combinations. Decision-makers planning to implement or evaluate a new QI programme, or both, need reliable evidence on the relative effectiveness of different QI strategies (individually and in combination) for different patient populations.

OBJECTIVES

To update existing systematic reviews of diabetes QI programmes and apply novel meta-analytical techniques to estimate the effectiveness of QI strategies (individually and in combination) on diabetes quality of care.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL) and trials registers (ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO ICTRP) to 4 June 2019. We conducted a top-up search to 23 September 2021; we screened these search results and 42 studies meeting our eligibility criteria are available in the awaiting classification section.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised trials that assessed a QI programme to improve care in outpatient settings for people living with diabetes. QI programmes needed to evaluate at least one system- or provider-targeted QI strategy alone or in combination with a patient-targeted strategy. - System-targeted: case management (CM); team changes (TC); electronic patient registry (EPR); facilitated relay of clinical information (FR); continuous quality improvement (CQI). - Provider-targeted: audit and feedback (AF); clinician education (CE); clinician reminders (CR); financial incentives (FI). - Patient-targeted: patient education (PE); promotion of self-management (PSM); patient reminders (PR). Patient-targeted QI strategies needed to occur with a minimum of one provider or system-targeted strategy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We dual-screened search results and abstracted data on study design, study population and QI strategies. We assessed the impact of the programmes on 13 measures of diabetes care, including: glycaemic control (e.g. mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)); cardiovascular risk factor management (e.g. mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), proportion of people living with diabetes that quit smoking or receiving cardiovascular medications); and screening/prevention of microvascular complications (e.g. proportion of patients receiving retinopathy or foot screening); and harms (e.g. proportion of patients experiencing adverse hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia). We modelled the association of each QI strategy with outcomes using a series of hierarchical multivariable meta-regression models in a Bayesian framework. The previous version of this review identified that different strategies were more or less effective depending on baseline levels of outcomes. To explore this further, we extended the main additive model for continuous outcomes (HbA1c, SBP and LDL-C) to include an interaction term between each strategy and average baseline risk for each study (baseline thresholds were based on a data-driven approach; we used the median of all baseline values reported in the trials). Based on model diagnostics, the baseline interaction models for HbA1c, SBP and LDL-C performed better than the main model and are therefore presented as the primary analyses for these outcomes. Based on the model results, we qualitatively ordered each QI strategy within three tiers (Top, Middle, Bottom) based on its magnitude of effect relative to the other QI strategies, where 'Top' indicates that the QI strategy was likely one of the most effective strategies for that specific outcome. Secondary analyses explored the sensitivity of results to choices in model specification and priors.  Additional information about the methods and results of the review are available as Appendices in an online repository. This review will be maintained as a living systematic review; we will update our syntheses as more data become available.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified 553 trials (428 patient-randomised and 125 cluster-randomised trials), including a total of 412,161 participants. Of the included studies, 66% involved people living with type 2 diabetes only. Participants were 50% female and the median age of participants was 58.4 years. The mean duration of follow-up was 12.5 months. HbA1c was the commonest reported outcome; screening outcomes and outcomes related to cardiovascular medications, smoking and harms were reported infrequently. The most frequently evaluated QI strategies across all study arms were PE, PSM and CM, while the least frequently evaluated QI strategies included AF, FI and CQI. Our confidence in the evidence is limited due to a lack of information on how studies were conducted.  Four QI strategies (CM, TC, PE, PSM) were consistently identified as 'Top' across the majority of outcomes. All QI strategies were ranked as 'Top' for at least one key outcome. The majority of effects of individual QI strategies were modest, but when used in combination could result in meaningful population-level improvements across the majority of outcomes. The median number of QI strategies in multicomponent QI programmes was three.  Combinations of the three most effective QI strategies were estimated to lead to the below effects:  - PR + PSM + CE: decrease in HbA1c by 0.41% (credibility interval (CrI) -0.61 to -0.22) when baseline HbA1c < 8.3%; - CM + PE + EPR: decrease in HbA1c by 0.62% (CrI -0.84 to -0.39) when baseline HbA1c > 8.3%;  - PE + TC + PSM: reduction in SBP by 2.14 mmHg (CrI -3.80 to -0.52) when baseline SBP < 136 mmHg; - CM + TC + PSM: reduction in SBP by 4.39 mmHg (CrI -6.20 to -2.56) when baseline SBP > 136 mmHg;  - TC + PE + CM: LDL-C lowering of 5.73 mg/dL (CrI -7.93 to -3.61) when baseline LDL < 107 mg/dL; - TC + CM + CR: LDL-C lowering by 5.52 mg/dL (CrI -9.24 to -1.89) when baseline LDL > 107 mg/dL. Assuming a baseline screening rate of 50%, the three most effective QI strategies were estimated to lead to an absolute improvement of 33% in retinopathy screening (PE + PR + TC) and 38% absolute increase in foot screening (PE + TC + Other).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant body of evidence about QI programmes to improve the management of diabetes. Multicomponent QI programmes for diabetes care (comprised of effective QI strategies) may achieve meaningful population-level improvements across the majority of outcomes. For health system decision-makers, the evidence summarised in this review can be used to identify strategies to include in QI programmes. For researchers, this synthesis identifies higher-priority QI strategies to examine in further research regarding how to optimise their evaluation and effects. We will maintain this as a living systematic review.

The intervention strategies and service model for pharmacist-led diabetes management: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

There is increasing intervention activities provided during pharmacist-led diabetes management. Nevertheless, there is an unclear definition of the activities involved during the intervention. Thus, this study aimed to describe the type of intervention strategies and service model provided during pharmacist-led type 2 diabetes management and service outcomes.

METHODS

This study utilized the scoping review methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers' Manual 2015. Articles on pharmacist-led diabetes management focusing on the service content, delivery methods, settings, frequency of appointments, collaborative work with other healthcare providers, and reported outcomes were searched and identified from four electronic databases: Ovid Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from 1990 to October 2020. Relevant medical subject headings and keywords, such as "diabetes," "medication adherence," "blood glucose," "HbA1c," and "pharmacist," were used to identify published articles.

RESULTS

The systematic search retrieved 4,370 articles, of which 61 articles met the inclusion criteria. The types of intervention strategies and delivery methods were identified from the studies based on the description of activities reported in the articles and were tabulated in a summary table.

CONCLUSION

There were variations in the descriptions of intervention strategies, which could be classified into diabetes education, medication review, drug consultation/counseling, clinical intervention, lifestyle adjustment, self-care, peer support, and behavioral intervention. In addition, most studies used a combination of two or more intervention strategy categories when providing services, with no specific pattern between the service model and patient outcomes.

Impact of a Clinical Pharmacist Intervention Program on the Follow-up of Type-2 Diabetic Patients

Aims

The primary aim of this current study was to investigate the impact of the clinical pharmacist interventions on glycemic control and other health-related clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes in Egypt.

Methods

A prospective trial was conducted on 100 patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes admitted in the diabetes outpatient's clinics. Patients were randomly allocated into the clinical pharmacist intervention group and usual care group. In the intervention group, the clinical pharmacist, in collaboration with the physician had their patients receive pharmaceutical care interventions. In contrast, the usual care group patients received routine care without clinical pharmacist's interference.

Results

After 6-month of follow-up, of the average HbA1c and FBG values of the patients in the clinical pharmacist intervention group (HbA1c % from 8.6 to 7.0; FBG (mg/dL) from 167.5 to 121.5) decreased significantly compared to the usual care group patients (HbA1c % from 8.1 to 7.8; FBG (mg/dL) from 157.3 to 155.9) (P < .05). Additionally, the results indicated that mean scores of patients 'diabetes knowledge, medication adherence, and diabetes self-care activities of the patients in the clinical pharmacist group increased significantly compared to the control group (P < .05).

Conclusions

The study demonstrated an improvement in HbA1c, FBG, and lipid profile, in addition to self-reported medication adherence, diabetes knowledge, and diabetes self-care activities in patients with type 2 diabetes who received pharmaceutical care interventions. The study outcomes support the benefits and the need to integrate clinical pharmacist interventions in the multidisciplinary healthcare team in Egypt.

Pharmacist-led intervention in treatment non-adherence and associated direct costs of management among ambulatory patients with type 2 diabetes in southwestern Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Non-adherence to recommended therapy remains a challenge to achieving optimal clinical outcome with resultant economic implications.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of a pharmacist-led intervention on treatment non-adherence and direct costs of management among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHOD

A quasi-experimental study among 201-patients with T2D recruited from two-tertiary healthcare facilities in southwestern Nigeria using semi-structured interview. Patients were assigned into control (HbA1c < 7%, n = 95) and intervention (HbA1c ≥ 7%, n = 106) groups. Baseline questionnaire comprised modified 4-item Medication Adherence Questions (MAQ), Perceived Dietary Adherence Questionnaire (PDAQ) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, to assess participants' adherence to medications, diet and physical activity, respectively. Post-baseline, participants were followed-up for 6-month with patient-specific educational intervention provided to resolve adherence discrepancies in the intervention group only, while control group continued to receive usual care. Subsequently, direct costs of management for 6-month pre-baseline and 6-month post-baseline were estimated for both groups. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Chi-square, McNemar and paired t-test were used to evaluate categorical and continuous variables at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Mean age was 62.9 ± 11.6 years, and 160(79.6%) were females. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was 6.1 ± 0.6% (baseline) and 6.1 ± 0.8% at 6-month post-baseline (p = 0.094) for control group, and 8.7 ± 1.5% (baseline) versus 7.8 ± 2.0% (6-month), p < 0.001, for the intervention. Post-baseline, response to MAQ items 1 (p = 0.017) and 2 (p < 0.001) improved significantly for the intervention. PDAQ score increased significantly from 51.8 ± 8.8 at baseline to 56.5 ± 3.9 at 6-month (p < 0.001) for intervention, and from 56.3 ± 4.0 to 56.5 ± 3.9 (p = 0.094) for the control group. Physical activity increased from 775.2 ± 700.5 Metabolic Equivalent Task (MET) to 829.3 ± 695.5MET(p < 0.001) and from 901.4 ± 743.5MET to 911.7 ± 752.6MET (p = 0.327) for intervention and control groups, respectively. Direct costs of management per patient increased from USD 327.3 ± 114.4 to USD 333.0 ± 118.4 (p = 0.449) for the intervention, while it decreased from USD 290.1 ± 116.97 to USD289.1 ± 120.0 (p = 0.89) for control group, at baseline and 6-month post-baseline, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacist-led intervention enhanced adherence to recommended medications, diet and physical activity among the intervention patients, with a corresponding significant improvement in glycaemic outcome and an insignificant increase in direct costs of management. There is a need for active engagement of pharmacists in management of patients with diabetes in clinical practice.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04712916 . Retrospectively-registered.

EMDIA Case Series-Effective Medication Therapy Management (MTM) for Diabetes Type 2 Patients-A Proof of Concept Study

Background: A 2016 meta-analysis of pharmaceutical care for patients with diabetes mellitus showed that the following four components were most effective: (a) individual goal setting, (b) sending feedback to the physician, (c) reviewing the medication, and (d) reviewing blood glucose measurements. Methods: To formulate a hypothesis regarding the effect of these four pharmaceutical care components on glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus and the feasibility of these components in practice. Ten patients with type 2 diabetes were included in the case series and received medication therapy management over four months. Results: The four care components were feasible in everyday practice and could be implemented within one patient visit. The average visits were 49 and 28 min at the beginning and end of the study, respectively. The glycated hemoglobin values did not change over the study period, though the fasting blood glucose decreased from 142 to 120 mg/dl, and the number of unsolved drug-related problems decreased from 6.9 to 1.9 per patient by the study end. Conclusions: This case series supports the hypothesis that community pharmacists can implement structured pharmaceutical care in everyday pharmacy practice for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Preferences for pharmacist services to enhance medication management among people with diabetes in Indonesia: A discrete choice experiment

OBJECTIVES

To elicit patients' preferences for pharmacist services that can enhance medication management among people with diabetes in Indonesia.

METHODS

A discrete choice experiment (DCE) among 833 respondents with diabetes in 57 community health centers (CHCs) and three hospitals in Surabaya, Indonesia. Consultation was the baseline service. Four attributes of consultation and two attributes of additional services were used in the DCE profiles based on literature and expert opinion. The DCE choice sets generated were partially balanced and partially without overlap. Random effect logistic regression was used in the analysis.

RESULTS

Respondents preferred a shorter duration of consultation and flexible access to the pharmacist offering the consultation. A private consultation room and lower copayment (fee) for services were also preferred. Respondents with experience in getting medication information from pharmacists, preferred to make an appointment for the consultation. Total monthly income and experience with pharmacist services influenced preferences for copayments.

CONCLUSION

Differences in patients' preferences identified in the study provide information on pharmacist services that meet patients' expectations and contribute to improve medication management among people with diabetes.

PRACTICE IMPLICATION

This study provides insight into evaluating and designing pharmacist services in accordance with the preferences of people with diabetes in Indonesia.

Impact of pharmacist counseling on health-related quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cluster randomized controlled study

Purpose

The quality of life (QoL) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a measure of the successful outcomes of therapy. The program of management of chronic diseases “Program Pengelolaan Penyakit Kronis” (Prolanis) among patients with hypertension and T2DM is a new strategy of the Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS), which is the Indonesian national health insurance system. Here, we analyzed the impact of pharmacist counseling interventions on health-related QoL (HRQoL) in Prolanis T2DM patients.

Methods

This cluster randomized controlled trial was designed to include two groups [control (n = 111) and intervention (n = 109) groups], and pre- and post-test procedures. The participants were Prolanis T2DM patients who attended four primary health-care centers (Puskesmas) in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia from August 2017 to August 2018. The intervention group received systematic counseling for 6 months. The data were collected using the Bahasa Indonesia version of the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Levels (EQ-5D-5 L) questionnaire and were analyzed using EQ-5D preference weight for each health state with the Indonesian EQ-5D-5 L value Set. Furthermore, the EQ-5D index and the EQ-5D VAS score were calculated and HbA1c levels were assessed.

Results

The change in the EQ-5D-5 L index score (post-pre) was 0.01 in the control group and 0.04 in the intervention group (P = 0.041). The change in the VAS score was −0.07in the control group (post-pre) and 2.66 in the intervention group (P = 0.000).

Conclusion

Pharmacist counseling may help improve the HRQoL of Prolanis T2DM patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40200-020-00528-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A Community Pharmacy-Based Intervention in the Matrix of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Outcomes (CPBI-T2DM): A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction:

Egypt has the ninth highest diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence in the world. There is a growing interest in community involvement in DM management.

Aim of the study:

The aim of the study was to evaluate the tailored diabetes care model (DCM) implementation in Alexandria governorate by community pharmacy-based intervention (CPBI) from a clinical, humanistic, and economic aspect.

Methods:

This is a 6-month period cross-over cluster randomized control trial conducted in Alexandria. Ten clusters owing 10 community pharmacies (CPs) recruited 100 health insurance-deprived T2DM patients with >7% HbA1c in 6-months. The study was divided into 2 phases (3 months for each period) with a 1-month washout period in between. After CPs training on DCM, the interventional group received pictorial training for 45 minutes in first visit, and 15 minutes in weekly visits, whereas the control group patients received the usual care (UC). At baseline and end of each phase (3 months), patients had clinical and physical activity assessments, filled all forms of study questionnaire (knowledge, self-management, satisfaction, and adherence) and did all laboratory investigations (Fasting Blood Glucose [FBG]), HbA1c, protein-creatinine clearance (PCR), creatine clearance (GFR), and lipid profile.

Results:

There was no significant difference in the basal systolic and diastolic blood pressure between patients in the CBPI and UC groups, but the CBPI had significantly decreased the mean SBP and DBP by ( P = .008, .040, respectively). Also, significant waist circumference and BMI reductions (−5.82 cm and −1.86 kg/m2, P = .001) were observed in the CBPI. The CBPI patients achieved a greater reduction in FBG and HbA1C than the UC patients (102 mg/dL and 1.9%, respectively P < .001). Also, significant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride (−6.4, −15.4, and −6.3 mg/dL respectively, P = .001) were achieved in the CBPI group. No significant differences were found in HDL, GFR, and PCR. Moreover, significant improvements of behavior, score of knowledge, self-management, satisfaction, and adherence were observed in CBPI patients. After multivariate analysis, HbA1C readings were significantly influenced by baseline HbA1C and eating habits. The cost saving for CPBI was −1581 LE per 1% HbA1c reduction.

Conclusion:

This is the first study in Egypt that illustrated the positive impact of pictorial DCM delivered by CPBI collaborative care on clinical, humanistic, laboratory, and economic outcomes to local T2DM patients.

Compared benefits of educational programs dedicated to diabetic patients with or without community pharmacist involvement

BACKGROUND

International guidelines on diabetes control strongly encourage the setting-up of therapeutic educational programs (TEP). However, more than half of the patients fail to control their diabetes a few months post-TEP because of a lack of regular follow-up by medical professionals. The DIAB-CH is a TEP associated with the follow-up of diabetic patients by the community pharmacist.

AIM

To compare the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body mass index (BMI) in diabetic patients of Control (neither TEP-H nor community pharmacist intervention), TEP-H (TEP in hospital only) and DIAB-CH (TEP-H plus community pharmacist follow-up) groups.

METHODS

A comparative cohort study design was applied. Patients included in the TEP-H from July 2017 to December 2017 were enrolled in the DIAB-CH group. The TEP-H session was conducted by a multidisciplinary team composed of two diabetologists, two dieticians and seven nurses. The HbA1c level and the BMI (when over 30 kg/m2 at M0) of patients in Control (n = 20), TEP-H (n = 20) and DIAB-CH (n = 20) groups were collected at M0, M0 + 6 and M0 + 12 months. First, HbA1c and BMI were compared between M0, M6 and M12 in the three groups with the Friedman test, followed by the Benjamini-Hochberg post-test. Secondly, the HbA1c and BMI of the three groups were compared at M0, M6 and M12 using the Kruskal-Wallis test.

FINDINGS

While no difference in HbA1c was measured between M0, M6 and M12 in the Control group, Hb1Ac was significantly reduced in both TEP-H and DIAB-CH groups between M0 and M6 (P = 0.0072 and P = 0.0034, respectively), and between M0 and M12 only in the DIAB-CH group (P = 0.0027). In addition, a significant decrease in the difference between the measured HbA1c and the target assigned by diabetologists was observed between M0 and M6 in both TEP-H and DIAB-CH groups (P = 0.0072 and P = 0.0044, respectively) but only for the patients of the DIAB-CH group between M0 and M12 (P = 0.0044). No significant difference (P > 0.05) in BMI between the groups was observed.

CONCLUSION

The long-lasting benefit on glycemic control of multidisciplinary group sessions associated with community pharmacist-led educational interventions on self-care for diabetic patients was demonstrated in the present study. There is thus evidence pointing to the effectiveness of a community/hospital care collaboration of professionals on diabetes control in primary care.

Clinical pharmacists´ interventions in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide. It is imperative to adopt an integrated strategy, which involves a close collaboration between the patient and a multidisciplinary team of which pharmacists should be integral elements.

Objective

This work aims to identify and summarize the main effects of interventions carried out by clinical pharmacists in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes, considering clinical, humanistic and economic outcomes.

Methods

PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for randomized controlled trials assessing the effectiveness of such interventions compared with usual care that took place in hospitals or outpatient facilities.

Results

This review included 39 studies, involving a total of 5,474 participants. Beneficial effects were observed on various clinical outcomes such as glycemia, blood pressure, lipid profile, body mass index and coronary heart disease risk. For the following parameters, the range for the difference in change from baseline to final follow-up between the intervention and control groups was: HbA1c, -0.05% to -2.1%; systolic blood pressure, +3.45 mmHg to -10.6 mmHg; total cholesterol, +10.06 mg/dL to -32.48 mg/dL; body mass index, +0.6 kg/m² to -1.94 kg/m²; and coronary heart disease risk, -3.0% and -12.0% (among the studies that used Framinghan prediction method). The effect on medication adherence and health-related quality of life was also positive. In the studies that performed an economic evaluation, the interventions proved to be economically viable.

Conclusions

These findings support and encourage the integration of clinical pharmacists into multidisciplinary teams, underlining their role in improving the management of type 2 diabetes.

Impact of an Advanced Practice Pharmacist Type 2 Diabetes Management Program: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of an Advanced Practice Pharmacist (APh) on lowering hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes within a patient centered medical home (PCMH) and to classify the types of therapeutic decisions made by the APh.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study using data from electronic health records. The study evaluated a partnership between Chapman University School of Pharmacy and Providence St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare that provided diabetes management by an Advanced Practice Pharmacist in a PCMH under a collaborative practice agreement. Change in the HbA1c was the primary endpoint assessed in this study. The type of therapeutic decisions made by the APh were also evaluated. Descriptive analysis and Wilcoxon signed ranktest were used to analyze data.

RESULTS

The study included 35 patients with diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus managed by an APh from May 2017 to December 2017. Most of the patients were 60-79 years old (68.5%), 45.7% were female, and 45.7% were of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. The average HbA1cwas 8.8%±1.4% (range=6.0%-12.4%) and 7.5%±1.4% (range=5.5%-12.4%) at the initial and final APh visit, respectively (p<0.0001). Therapeutic decisions made by the APh included drug dose increase (35.5% of visits), drug added (16.4%), drug dose decrease (6.4%), drug switch (5.5%), and drug discontinuation (1.8%).

CONCLUSION

The Advanced Practice Pharmacist's interventions had a significant positive impact on lowering HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a PCMH. The most common therapeutic decisions made by the APh included drug dose increase and adding a new drug.

Team-Based Care to Improve Diabetes Management: A Community Guide Meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Team-based care has been increasingly used to deliver care for patients with chronic conditions, but its effectiveness for managing diabetes has not been systematically assessed.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

RCTs were identified from two sources: a high-quality, broader review comparing 11 quality improvement strategies for diabetes management (database inception to July 2010), and an updated search using the same search strategy (July 2010-October 2015).

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Thirty-five studies were included in the current review; a majority focused on patients with Type 2 diabetes. Teams included patients, their primary care providers, and one or two additional healthcare professionals (most often nurses or pharmacists). Random effect meta-analysis showed that, compared with controls, team-based care was associated with greater reductions in blood glucose levels (-0.5% in HbA1c, 95% CI= -0.7, -0.3) and greater improvements in blood pressure and lipid levels. Interventions also increased the proportion of patients who reached target blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipid levels, based on American Diabetes Association guidelines available at the time. Data analysis was completed in 2016.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with Type 2 diabetes, team-based care improves blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipid levels.

Using the Pharmaceutical Collection Database to identify patient adherence to oral hypoglycaemic medicines

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTIONPoor adherence to oral hypoglycaemic medicines is a key contributor to therapy failure and sub-optimal glycaemic control among people with type 2 diabetes. It is unclear how commonly non-adherence to oral hypoglycaemics occurs in the general population. This information is essential to design and implement local adherence strategies. AIMThis study aimed to determine levels of sub-optimal adherence and identify patient groups who may need additional adherence support. METHODSThe dispensing data of 340,283 patients from one District Health Board was obtained from the Pharmaceutical Collection Database for the period 2008–15. Of these, 12,405 patients received oral hypoglycaemic therapy during the study period. The proportion of days covered (PDC) was calculated for patients with complete data and a PDC value of ≥80% was used to indicate sufficient adherence. Patient demographics (gender, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status) and therapy type (mono- or combination) were described. RESULTSOverall, 54.5% of the patients were found to have a PDC of &lt;80% and so were considered non-adherent. Non-adherence was significantly higher in patients receiving combination oral hypoglycaemic therapy than monotherapy; in male patients; in New Zealand Māori patients; and in patients with higher socioeconomic deprivation. DISCUSSIONIn the study region, non-adherence to oral hypoglycaemic medicines was significant and widespread. Identification of such patients is important so that strategies to enhance adherence can be implemented. Prescribers need to be encouraged to optimise monotherapy before the addition of another oral hypoglycaemic, and adherence support services should be offered not only to older patients.

Physician-community pharmacist collaborative care in diabetes management: a pilot study

Background: Attaining therapeutic goals in diabetes mellitus (DM) is often suboptimal due to disease complexity, poor adherence and inadequate patient counseling.

Aim: This study evaluated the effectiveness of the collaboration between the physicians and pharmacists in DM management.

Design and setting: A pilot study was conducted between January 2015 and December 2015 in diabetic patients from four districts of Lebanon.

Methods: A total of 200 patients with type 2 DM were recruited with 12 months of follow-up. A range of clinical measures, including medication adherence and self-care activities, were assessed over a period of 12 months. The protocol consisted of primary care physicians referring patients to community pharmacies. The participants were attended for 30 min in the pharmacy. They were asked to complete a questionnaire and then received counseling on their illness and their medication in an organized manner by the pharmacist once every month for 12 consecutive months. The primary outcome was the change in fasting blood glucose (FBG) after 12 months of follow-up.

Results: A total of 200 patients completed the study. The primary endpoint decreased significantly from the baseline after 12 months of follow-up (mean difference: 30 mg/dl; 95% CI, 28–32; p < .001). The secondary endpoints, such as glycated hemoglobin, also showed an improvement after 12 months of follow-up.

Conclusion: Collaborative care between the physician and the pharmacist was successful in reducing FBG and improving patient satisfaction and quality of care over 12 months of follow-up.

Effects of Pharmacy-Based Interventions on the Control and Management of Diabetes in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of pharmacy-based interventions on clinical outcomes associated with diabetes-related complications as well as on nonclinical outcomes in people with diabetes.

METHODS

We searched 4 main databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) for studies that considered clinical and nonclinical outcomes of pharmacy-based interventions among people with diabetes. Clinical outcomes included patients' mean reductions of glycated hemoglobin (A1C) levels and body mass indexes (BMIs). Nonclinical outcomes included patients' healthcare utilization and quality of life. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled net mean difference in clinical outcomes between the pharmacy-intervention and the control groups.

RESULTS

Of the 44 studies included in the systematic review, 32 studies reported results from randomized controlled trials measuring reductions of A1C levels in 4,132 patients. Meta-analysis revealed that the standardized absolute mean difference in reduction of A1C levels from baseline to the time of the last follow up significantly favoured the pharmacy intervention versus the control group (0.96%; 95% CI 0.71 to 1.22; p<0.001). Of the studies, 13 reported BMI kg/m² in 1,827 patients. The estimation of standardized absolute mean difference in reduction of BMI unit calculated through meta-analysis was 0.61 (95% CI 0.20 to 1.03; p=0.000) in favour of the pharmacy-intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacy-based interventions have significant positive effects on controlling 2 major risks factors associated with diabetes-related complications: A1C levels and BMI. However, there is a dearth of evidence about the effects of pharmacy-based intervention on nonclinical outcomes, including healthcare utilization and quality of life.

Efficacy of Pharmacist Based Diabetes Educational Interventions on Clinical Outcomes of Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Network Meta-Analysis

Background: Comparative efficacy of different pharmacist based interventions on glycemic control of type 2 diabetes patients is unclear. This review aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of different pharmacist based interventions on clinical outcomes of type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across five databases from date of database inception to September 2017. All randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of pharmacist based interventions on type 2 diabetes patients were included for network meta-analysis (NMA). The protocol is available with PROSPERO (CRD42017078854). Results: A total of 43 studies, involving 6259 type 2 diabetes patients, were included. NMA demonstrated that all interventions significantly lowered glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels compared to usual care, but there was no statistical evidence from this study that one intervention was significantly better than the other for reducing HbA1c levels. Pharmacist based diabetes education plus pharmaceutical care showed maximum efficacy for reducing HbA1c levels [-0.86, 95% CI -0.983, -0.727; p < 0.001]. Pharmacist based diabetes education plus pharmaceutical care was observed to be statistically significant in lowering levels of systolic blood pressure [-4.94; 95%CI -8.65, -1.23] and triglycerides levels [-0.26, 95%CI -0.51, -0.01], as compared to the interventions which involved diabetes education by pharmacist, and for body mass index (BMI) [-0.57; 95%CI -1.25, -0.12] in comparison to diabetes education by health care team involving pharmacist as member. Conclusion: The findings of this review demonstrate that all interventions had a significantly positive effect on HbA1c, but there was no statistical evidence from this study that one intervention was significantly better than the other for achieving glycemic control.Pharmacist based diabetes education plus pharmaceutical care showed maximum efficacy on HbA1c and rest of the clinical outcomes.

Assessing the influence of health systems on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus awareness, treatment, adherence, and control: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is reported to affect one in 11 adults worldwide, with over 80% of T2DM patients residing in low-to-middle-income countries. Health systems play an integral role in responding to this increasing global prevalence, and are key to ensuring effective diabetes management. We conducted a systematic review to examine the health system-level factors influencing T2DM awareness, treatment, adherence, and control.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

A protocol for this study was published on the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO 2016: CRD42016048185). Studies included in this review reported the effects of health systems factors, interventions, policies, or programmes on T2DM control, awareness, treatment, and adherence. The following databases were searched on 22 February 2017: Medline, Embase, Global health, LILACS, Africa-Wide, IMSEAR, IMEMR, and WPRIM. There were no restrictions on date, language, or study designs. Two reviewers independently screened studies for eligibility, extracted the data, and screened for risk of bias. Thereafter, we performed a narrative synthesis. A meta-analysis was not conducted due to methodological heterogeneity across different aspects of included studies. 93 studies were included for qualitative synthesis; 7 were conducted in LMICs. Through this review, we found two key health system barriers to effective T2DM care and management: financial constraints faced by the patient and limited access to health services and medication. We also found three health system factors that facilitate effective T2DM care and management: the use of innovative care models, increased pharmacist involvement in care delivery, and education programmes led by healthcare professionals.

CONCLUSIONS

This review points to the importance of reducing, or possibly eliminating, out-of-pocket costs for diabetes medication and self-monitoring supplies. It also points to the potential of adopting more innovative and integrated models of care, and the value of task-sharing of care with pharmacists. More studies which identify the effect of health system arrangements on various outcomes, particularly awareness, are needed.

A Motivational Interviewing Intervention by Pharmacy Students to Improve Medication Adherence

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with comorbid hypertension (HTN) are at a higher risk of developing microvascular and macrovascular DM complications. Through guideline-driven recommendations, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are highly recommended for these patients. Unfortunately, medication adherence to these products, though crucial to achieving therapeutic benefit, is frequently suboptimal. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a patient-centered collaborative communication style that is used to strengthen internal motivation for change that may prove effective in enhancing adherence.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of an MI telephone intervention conducted by pharmacy students in improving adherence to ACEIs/ARBs among Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) patients with both DM and HTN.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted among patients enrolled in a Texas MAP. Medical claims data were used to identify patients with DM and HTN, and pharmacy claims were observed to recognize those who filled either an ACEI or an ARB during June 2014. Patients with a 6-month proportion of days covered (PDC) < 0.80 in the previous 6 months were determined nonadherent, and 75% of those were randomly selected to serve as potential subjects for the intervention, while 25% were randomly selected to serve as potential subjects for the control group. The intervention was a telephone call by a pharmacy student on rotation at the health plan, and 5 monthly follow-up calls. Before implementing calls, participating students attended a 3-day MI training course, where their proficiency for MI skills was evaluated. Refill data during the 6-month postintervention were evaluated to examine the intervention effect measured on 3 outcomes: PDC; PDC ≥ 0.80 versus < 0.80; and discontinuation versus continuation. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were constructed to adjust for any imbalances in baseline characteristics, including age, gender, number of other medications, regimen complexity, health low-income subsidy status, prescriber specialty, comorbidities, 6-month previous hospitalization, baseline 6-month PDC, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services risk score.

RESULTS

A total of 11 students participated in the intervention implementation. Patients receiving calls were randomly selected from those potential subjects for the intervention arm until a target of 250 was reached; 500 controls were randomly selected from the potential subjects for the control arm. The final cohort included in multivariate models consisted of 743 patients. Patients completing the initial call and at least 2 follow-ups were less likely to discontinue (OR = 0.29; 95% CI = 0.15-0.54; P < 0.001) and more likely to be adherent in the linear regression model (β = 0.0604, P < 0.001) and the logistic regression model (OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.02-2.28; P = 0.009). Other factors significantly associated with better adherence included higher baseline PDC and number of medications. Depression status was significantly associated with lower adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients receiving 2 or more calls had significantly better adherence and less discontinuation during the 6 months following initial calls compared with those who did not receive calls. This finding indicates that an MI-based telephone intervention by pharmacy students may be a promising intervention to improve adherence. Future research should examine the sustainability of the intervention effect for longer time periods and its influence on associated clinical outcomes.

DISCLOSURES

This project was supported by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation (PhRMA). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of PhRMA. The funding agency was not involved in research design, analysis, or reporting results. Funding was obtained by Abughosh. Holstad provided a consultation regarding the MI guide and provided the MI training. Study concept and design were contributed by Abughosh and Fleming, along with Serna, Esse, and Holstad. Serna, Esse, Mann, Holstad, and Masilamani collected the data, and data interpretation was performed by Abughosh, Wong, and Esse. The manuscript was written by Abughosh, Wong, and Esse and revised by Masilamani and Holstad, along with the other authors.

Pharmacist-Led Self-management Interventions to Improve Diabetes Outcomes. A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Treatment of diabetes requires a strict treatment scheme which demands patient self-management. Pharmacists are in a good position to provide self-management support. This review examines whether pharmacist-led interventions to support self-management in diabetes patients improve clinical and patient-reported outcomes. Methods: This review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. An extended literature search was conducted with the keywords "pharmacist," "diabetes," and "self-management" using the electronic databases Pubmed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from the beginning of the database through September 2017. In addition reference lists of systematic reviews and included studies were searched. Eligibility criteria included; self-management intervention tested with an RCT, performed in an ambulatory care setting, led by a pharmacist and reporting at least one clinical- or patient-reported outcome. Primary outcomes were HbA1c (-as this is a clinical parameter for long-term diabetes follow-up), self-management and components of intervention. Secondary outcomes were blood glucose, blood pressure, BMI, lipids, adherence to medication, quality of life, and diabetes knowledge. For the meta-analysis HbA1c values were pooled with a random-effects model in Revman 5.3. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Results: Twenty-four studies representing 3,610 patients were included. Pharmacist-led self-management interventions included education on diabetes complications, medication, lifestyle, and teaching of self-management skills. Some studies focused on patient needs through a tailored intervention. No key components for a successful self-management intervention could be identified. Pharmacist-led self-management interventions improve HbA1c levels with a mean of 0.71% (CI -0.91, -0.51; overall effect P < 0.0001) and had a positive effect on blood pressure (SBP -5.20 mm Hg [-7.58; -2.92], DBP -3.51 mmHg [-6.00; -1.01]), BMI (-0.49 kg/m2 [-0.79; -0.19]), lipids (total cholesterol -0.19 mmol/l [-0.33; -0.05], LDL-C mmol/l -0.16 [-0.26; -0.06], HDL-C 0.32 mmol/l [0.02; 0.61]), self-management skill development, and adherence to medication. Conclusion: Pharmacist-led self-management interventions significantly improve HbA1c values in diabetes patients. These results underline the added value of pharmacists in patient-related care. Pharmacists should offer self-management support to diabetes patients in order to improve diabetes outcomes.

Improving risk factor management for patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of healthcare interventions in primary care and community settings

OBJECTIVES

Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major international health problem. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of healthcare interventions, specifically targeting patients with poorly controlled T2DM, which seek to improve glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk in primary care settings.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

SETTING

Primary care and community settings.

INCLUDED STUDIES

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) targeting patients with poor glycaemic control were identified from Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and SCOPUS. Poor glycaemic control was defined as HbA1c over 59 mmol/mol (7.5%).

INTERVENTIONS

Interventions were classified as organisational, patient-oriented, professional, financial or regulatory.

OUTCOMES

Primary outcomes were HbA1c, blood pressure and lipid control. Two reviewers independently assessed studies for eligibility, extracted data and assessed study quality. Meta-analyses were undertaken where appropriate using random-effects models. Subgroup analysis explored the effects of intervention type, baseline HbA1c, study quality and study duration. Meta-regression analyses were undertaken to investigate identified heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Forty-two RCTs were identified, including 11 250 patients, with most undertaken in USA. In general, studies had low risk of bias. The main intervention types were patient-directed (48%) and organisational (48%). Overall, interventions reduced HbA1c by -0.34% (95% CI -0.46% to -0.22%), but meta-analyses had high statistical heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses suggested that organisational interventions and interventions on those with baseline HbA1c over 9.5% had better improvements in HbA1c. Meta-regression analyses suggested that only interventions on those with population HbA1c over 9.5% were more effective. Interventions had a modest improvement of blood pressure and lipids, although baseline levels of control were generally good.

CONCLUSIONS

This review suggests that interventions for T2DM, in primary care, are better targeted at individuals with very poor glycaemic control and that organisational interventions may be more effective.

Randomized controlled trials covering pharmaceutical care and medicines management: A systematic review of literature

OBJECTIVE

To review the effects of pharmaceutical care on hospitalizations, mortality and clinical outcomes in patients.

METHODS

Systematic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA) databases to identify studies that were published between 2004 and January 2017. Studies included in this review were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that spanned across both community and hospital settings. Using strict inclusion/exclusion criteria studies were included if they reported level 1 or 2 outcomes in the hierarchy of outcome measure i.e. clinical and surrogate outcomes (e.g. blood pressure (BP) control, blood glucose level, cholesterol BMI). Each study was assessed for quality using the Jadad scoring system.

RESULTS

Fifty-four RCTs were included in the present review. Forty-six of these studies ranked high quality according to the Jadad scoring system. Studies were categorized into their general condition groups. Interventions in patients with diabetes, depression, respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disorders, epilepsy, osteoporosis, and interventions in older adults were identified. In the majority of studies pharmaceutical care was found to lead to significant improvements in clinical outcomes and/or hospitalizations when compared to the non-intervention group. Some conditions had a large number of RCTs, for example for cardiovascular conditions and in diabetes. Statistically significant improvements were seen in the majority of the studies included for both of these conditions, with studies indicating positive clinical outcomes and/or hospitalizations rates. Within the cardiovascular condition, a subset of studies, focusing on cardiac heart failure and coronary heart disease, had more mixed results. In other conditions the number of RCTs conducted was small and the evidence did not show improvements after pharmaceutical care, i.e. in depression, osteoporosis, and epilepsy. The majority of interventions were face to face interactions with patients, whilst a smaller number were conducted via the telephone and one via a web-based system. Patient education was a key component of most interventions, either verbal and/or written. Longitudinal data, post intervention cessation, was not collected in the majority of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

RCTs conducted to evaluate pharmaceutical care appear to be effective in improving patient short-term outcomes for a number of conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, however, other conditions such as depression are less well researched. Future research should attempt to evaluate the conditions where there is a lack of data, whether the positive effects of pharmaceutical care persist in patient populations after the interventions cease and what the long-term clinical outcomes would be of continued pharmaceutical care.

Putting evidence into practice: evidence-based interventions for oral agents for cancer

BACKGROUND

The limited evidence available suggests that adherence to oral agents for cancer is a significant clinical problem and may have a substantial impact on treatment success or failure. Adherence is a difficult issue among patients who are very sick with a life-threatening disease who often must adhere to complex treatment protocols independently at home.

OBJECTIVES

This article aims to identify effective interventions for the promotion, treatment, and management of adherence to oral agents for cancer and to synthesize the literature for use in clinical practice.

METHODS

As part of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Putting Evidence Into Practice (PEP) initiative, a comprehensive examination of the current literature was conducted to identify effective interventions for patients prescribed oral agents for cancer. The ONS PEP weight-of-evidence classification schema levels of evidence were used to categorize interventions to assist nurses in identifying strategies that are effective at improving adherence.

FINDINGS

The majority of evidence found was conducted in conditions other than cancer; therefore, research is needed to identify whether these interventions are effective at promoting adherence in patients with cancer.

Effect of pharmaceutical care on clinical outcomes of outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

In the People's Republic of China, outpatients have limited time with their physicians. Thus, compared to inpatients, outpatients have lower medication adherence and are less knowledgeable about their disease.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pharmaceutical care on clinical outcomes of outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A randomized, controlled, prospective clinical trial was conducted recruiting a total of 240 T2DM outpatients from Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University. The control group (CG) received only common care from medical staff, whereas the inter vention group (IG) received extra pharmaceutical care from clinical pharmacists. Biochemical data such as blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin A1 (HbA1c), and blood lipid were collected before and after 6-month intervention. The primary end points in this study were FBG and HbA1c.

RESULTS

After the intervention, most of the baseline clinical outcomes of the patients in IG significantly improved, while only body mass index, diastolic BP, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol (TC) improved significantly in patients in the CG. Compared to CG, in IG, there were significant improvements in FBG, HbA1c, TC, the target attainment rates of HbA1c, and BP.

CONCLUSION

Pharmaceutical care provided by clinical pharmacists could improve the control of diabetes of outpatients, and clinical pharmacists could play an important role in diabetes management.

The pharmacotherapy of cirrhosis: concerns and proposed investigations and solutions

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

The presence of cirrhosis has a multifaceted impact on hepatic drug metabolism. An area of concern and uncertainty in the care of patients with cirrhosis is the safe use of both prescription and over-the-counter medications.

COMMENT

Retrospective studies indicate a high incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) among patients with cirrhosis related to use of certain medication classes including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Conversely, use of appropriate medications, such as statins, may be decreased in this population due to fear of precipitating hepatotoxicity.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

Pharmacotherapy in cirrhosis is an area of uncertainty and heterogeneity in clinical practice. Prescribing and dosing guidelines are needed to decrease the risk of serious ADRs in this high-risk patient population.

The role of pharmaceutical care in diabetes management

Pharmaceutical care (PC) is a process through which a pharmacist works with other healthcare professionals and the patient to optimise pharmacotherapy. Early studies, carried out before PC was established, provided limited evidence of the benefits of pharmacist involvement in diabetes management. More recent research has examined the role of PC in a range of diabetic sub-groups. Although few of these studies were randomised, prospective and included clinically important end points such as HbA1C, some beneficial effects of PC were reported. In the most recent study, a 12-month randomised controlled trial of PC in community-based diabetic patients, regular face-to-face and telephone interviews with an experienced clinical pharmacist improved glycosylated haemoglobin while glycaemic control did not change in the controls. In addition, reductions in blood pressure, and in absolute vascular risk for patients with no history of coronary artery disease, were significantly greater in the PC group. Available evidence suggests that PC can prove a valuable component of community-based multi-disciplinary diabetes care.

Pharmacist Interventions in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem that is growing rapidly worldwide. A collaborative and integrated team approach in which pharmacists can play a pivotal role should be sought when managing patients with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

To identify and summarize the main outcomes of pharmacist interventions in the management of type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science were searched for randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of any pharmacist intervention directed at patients with type 2 diabetes in comparison with usual care. Outcome measures of interest included glycosylated hemoglobin (Alc), blood glucose, blood pressure, lipid profile, body mass index (BMI), 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, medication adherence, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and economic outcomes. The risk of bias in included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

RESULTS

Thirty-six studies were included in this systematic review, involving 5,761 participants. The studies evaluated the effects of several pharmacist interventions carried out in various countries and in different health care facilities, such as community pharmacies, primary care clinics, and hospitals. The number of studies reporting each outcome of interest varied. Alc was evaluated in 26 studies, of which 24 reported a greater reduction in this outcome in the intervention group compared with the control group, with the difference in change between groups ranging from -0.18% to -2.1%. Eighteen studies assessed change in systolic blood pressure, of which 17 studies reported a greater improvement in this outcome in the intervention group, with the difference in change between groups varying between -3.3 mmHg and -23.05 mmHg. For diastolic blood pressure, a greater effect was also observed in the intervention group in 14 out of 15 studies, with the difference in change between groups varying between -0.21 mmHg and -9.1 mmHg. Thirteen studies described total cholesterol as an outcome measure, of which 10 reported a greater improvement in this outcome in the intervention group, with the difference in change between groups ranging from +18.95 mg dL(-1) to -32.48 mg dL(-1). With regard to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, a greater reduction in this parameter in the intervention group was documented in 12 out of 15 studies, with the difference in change between groups varying between +7.35 mg dL(-1) and -30 mg dL(-1). Similarly, favorable data were reported on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the intervention group in 9 out of 12 studies that assessed this outcome, with the difference in change between groups ranging from -5.8 mg dL(-1) to +11 mg dL(-1). Data on triglycerides were also reported in 12 studies, of which 9 reported a greater reduction in triglycerides levels in the intervention group, with the difference in change between groups varying between +12 mg dL(-1) and -62 mg dL(-1). Overall, a beneficial effect on BMI was also described in the intervention group in 12 out of 14 studies. Of note, in all 6 studies that estimated the 10-year CHD risk among study patients, a greater improvement in the intervention group versus the control group was found. In addition, pharmacist interventions also had a positive impact on medication adherence and HRQoL in most studies that ascertained these outcomes. Finally, although only 3 studies conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis, pharmacist interventions proved to be cost-effective.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this review clearly support the involvement of pharmacists as members of health care teams in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes.

DISCLOSURES

This systematic review was not funded. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. Concept and study design were created by Pousinho, Morgado, and Alves. Pousinho took the lead in data collection, along with Alves, and data interpretation was performed by Pousinho, Falcão, and Alves. The manuscript was primarily written by Pousinho, along with Alves, and revised by Alves, Morgado, and Falcão.

Effects of interventions promoting monitoring of medication use and brief messaging on medication adherence for people with Type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of randomized trials

AIMS

To assess the impact of interventions promoting the monitoring of medication use and brief messaging to support medication adherence in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to investigate the extent of theory use to guide intervention development.

METHODS

We systematically searched for controlled trials, published from 1990 onwards in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and the Cochrane library, that evaluated interventions based on monitoring and brief messaging to support medication adherence in patients with Type 2 diabetes, to examine the effectiveness of such interventions.

RESULTS

A total of 11 trials, comparing 15 interventions, were identified. Only a small minority presented a low risk of bias. Three interventions were based on delivering brief messages, six were based on monitoring medication adherence, and six used both strategies. Messaging interventions included the use of short message service text messages, web-based feedback, and messages delivered through monitoring devices. Monitoring interventions included remote self-reporting of medication and telephone calls with healthcare staff. Improvements in medication adherence were observed in six interventions, although effect sizes were generally moderate. Only two interventions improved both adherence and clinical outcomes. A meta-analysis of five trials (eight interventions) combining monitoring and messaging strategies showed that the pooled difference in medication adherence between intervention and control was moderate and not statistically significant [standardized mean difference = 0.22 (95% CI -0.05; 0.49)]. Only four trials were based on explicit theoretical frameworks.

CONCLUSIONS

Although interventions based on messaging and monitoring have the potential to improve medication adherence in patients with Type 2 diabetes, evidence of their efficacy is limited and additional high-quality, theory-based research is needed.

Investigating Sources of Heterogeneity in Randomized Controlled Trials of the Effects of Pharmacist Interventions on Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of pharmacist interventions on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients and to examine factors that could explain the variation across studies.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and LILACS databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to July 2015. The search strategy included the use of MeSH terms or text words related to pharmacist interventions, type 2 diabetes, and randomized controlled trials. RCTs published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish that evaluated the effect of pharmacist intervention on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic outpatients were included. Two independent authors executed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Mean differences in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were estimated using random-effect models, and heterogeneity was evaluated by subgroup and meta-regression analyses.

RESULTS

The literature search yielded 963 records of potential interest, of which 30 were included in the systematic review and 22 in the meta-analysis. Most of these RCTs were conducted in the United States in patients in outpatient clinics using face-to-face contact only. All RCTs performed patient education, and most executed the medication review. The appraised sample showed uncertain or high risk of bias in most of the items evaluated, resulting in low-quality studies. In comparison with usual care, pharmacist interventions were associated with significant reductions in HbA1c levels (-8.5% [95% CI: -1.06, -0.65]; P < 0.0001; I2 = 67.3%). Subgroup analysis indicated differences of heterogeneity by country, baseline HbA1c levels, setting, intervention frequency, and random allocation. Age and HbA1c levels partly explained the variability across studies by meta-regression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings confirmed that pharmacist interventions improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with usual care and suggest that younger patients or with higher baseline HbA1c levels may be the main beneficiaries of pharmacist care.

PROTOCOL PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42014007457.

A systematic review of interventions targeting primary care or community based professionals on cardio-metabolic risk factor control in people with diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To review the interventions targeting primary care or community based professionals on glycaemic and cardiovascular risk factor control in people with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A systematic review of randomised controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of interventions targeting primary care or community based professionals on diabetes and cardiovascular risk factor control. We conducted searches in MEDLINE database from inception up to 27th September 2015. We also retrieved articles related to diabetes from the Cochrane EPOC database and EMBASE and scanned bibliographies for key articles.

RESULTS

There was heterogeneity in terms of interventions and participants amongst the 30 studies (39,439 patients) that met the inclusion criteria. Nine of the studies focused on general or family practitioners, five on pharmacists, three on nurses and one each on dieticians and community workers. Twelve studies targeted multi-disciplinary teams. Educational interventions did not seem to have a positive impact on HbA1c, systolic blood pressure or lipid profiles. The use of telemedicine, clinician reminders and feedback showed mixed results but there was a level of consistency in improvement in HbA1c when multifaceted interventions on multidisciplinary teams were implemented. Targeting general or family physicians was largely ineffective in improving the cardiovascular risk factors considered, except when using a computer application on insulin handling of type 2 diabetes or customised simulated cases with feedbacks. Similarly, interventions targeting nurses did not improve outcomes compared to standard care.

CONCLUSIONS

Multifaceted professional interventions were more effective than single interventions targeting single primary or community care professionals in improving glycaemic control.

Impact of pharmaceutical care interventions on glycemic control and other health-related clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes: Randomized controlled trial

AIMS

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical care interventions on glycemic control and other health-related clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes patients in Jordan.

METHODS

A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 106 patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes seeking care in the diabetes clinics at Jordan University Hospital. Patients were randomly allocated into control and intervention group. The intervention group patients received pharmaceutical care interventions developed by the clinical pharmacist in collaboration with the physician while the control group patients received usual care without clinical pharmacist's input. Fasting blood glucose and HbA1c were measured at the baseline, at three months, and six months intervals for both intervention and control groups.

RESULTS

After the six months follow-up, mean of HbA1c and FBS of the patients in the intervention group decreased significantly compared to the control group patients (P<0.05). Also, the results indicated that mean scores of patients' knowledge about medications, knowledge about diabetes and adherence to medications and diabetes self-care activities of the patients in the intervention group increased significantly compared to the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated an improvement in HbA1c, FBS, and lipid profile, in addition to self-reported medication adherence, diabetes knowledge, and diabetes self-care activities in patients with type 2 diabetes who received pharmaceutical care interventions. The results suggest the benefits of integrating clinical pharmacist services in multidisciplinary healthcare team and diabetes management in Jordan.

A Systematic Review of Interventions Addressing Adherence to Anti-Diabetic Medications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes--Components of Interventions

Background

Poor adherence to anti-diabetic medications contributes to suboptimal glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). A range of interventions have been developed to promote anti-diabetic medication adherence. However, there has been very little focus on the characteristics of these interventions and how effectively they address factors that predict non-adherence. In this systematic review we assessed the characteristics of interventions that aimed to promote adherence to anti-diabetic medications.

Method

Using appropriate search terms in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA), PUBmed, and PsychINFO (years 2000–2013), we identified 52 studies which met the inclusion criteria.

Results

Forty-nine studies consisted of patient-level interventions, two provider-level interventions, and one consisted of both. Interventions were classified as educational (n = 7), behavioural (n = 3), affective, economic (n = 3) or multifaceted (a combination of the above; n = 40). One study consisted of two interventions. The review found that multifaceted interventions, addressing several non-adherence factors, were comparatively more effective in improving medication adherence and glycaemic target in patients with T2D than single strategies. However, interventions with similar components and those addressing similar non-adherence factors demonstrated mixed results, making it difficult to conclude on effective intervention strategies to promote adherence. Educational strategies have remained the most popular intervention strategy, followed by behavioural, with affective components becoming more common in recent years. Most of the interventions addressed patient-related (n = 35), condition-related (n = 31), and therapy-related (n = 20) factors as defined by the World Health Organization, while fewer addressed health care system (n = 5) and socio-economic-related factors (n = 13).

Conclusion

There is a noticeable shift in the literature from using single to multifaceted intervention strategies addressing a range of factors impacting adherence to medications. However, research limitations, such as limited use of standardized methods and tools to measure adherence, lack of individually tailored adherence promoting strategies and variability in the interventions developed, reduce the ability to generalize the findings of the studies reviewed. Furthermore, this review highlights the need to develop multifaceted interventions which can be tailored to the individual patient’s needs over the duration of their diabetes management.

Assessing the effectiveness of pharmacist-directed medication therapy management in improving diabetes outcomes in patients with poorly controlled diabetes

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare medication adherence rates and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) health outcomes in a sample of underserved patients with suboptimally controlled T2DM (A1C >7%) who had received pharmacist-directed medication therapy management (MTM) to those who had not received MTM.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 100 patient records was conducted. For the MTM group, a pharmacist engaged patients in patient-centered services to optimize therapeutic outcomes. Non-MTM patients received usual care. Outcomes were A1C, medication adherence, blood pressure, lipids, and creatinine. Group comparisons on clinical outcomes were analyzed before and after matching MTM and non-MTM patients on demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

Before matching, the MTM group had a higher rate of medication adherence than the non-MTM group. The A1C levels were lower in the MTM group compared to the non-MTM group. Similarly, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was lower in the MTM group compared to the non-MTM group. After matching, medication adherence rate remained higher in the MTM group than the non-MTM group. Similarly, A1C levels remained lower in the MTM group than the non-MTM group.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a paucity of research focused on behavioral interventions for improving health outcomes in underserved communities. Our results advance the existing literature by demonstrating a positive association between pharmacist-directed MTM, medication adherence, and glycemic control in a sample of underserved patients with suboptimally controlled T2DM. A prospective pharmacy intervention and examination of long-term effects of MTM on medication adherence and T2DM health outcomes in this population is warranted.

The impact of tailored text messages on health beliefs and medication adherence in adults with diabetes: A randomized pilot study

BACKGROUND

Inadequate medication adherence reduces optimal health outcomes and can lead to increased costs, particularly in patients with diabetes. Efforts to improve adherence have resulted in limited effects; approaches leveraging mobile technology have emerged, but their focus has mainly been limited to simple reminder messages.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the effectiveness of tailored text messages focusing on improving medication adherence and health beliefs in adults with diabetes.

METHODS

Adults aged 21-64, with uncontrolled diabetes, and taking at least one anti-diabetic medication were recruited and randomized into 2 study arms: daily tailored text messaging for 90 days or standard care. Comparing baseline and endpoint survey responses, changes in theory-driven health beliefs and attitudes were assessed. The impact on medication adherence was evaluated using pharmacy claims by calculating the percent of days covered (PDC).

RESULTS

A total of 75 subjects were consented, and 48 were randomized. Mean PDC at baseline were comparable between cohorts (84.4% and 87.1%, respectively). Declines in adherence were observed in both groups over time but no significant differences were observed between groups or from baseline to the end of the active study period. Unadjusted tests suggested that perceived benefits and competence might have improved in the intervention arm.

CONCLUSIONS

Tailoring mobile phone text messages is a novel way to address medication nonadherence and health beliefs; further investigation to this combined technique is needed to better understand its impact on behavior change in adults with diabetes.

Impact of a pharmacist led diabetes mellitus intervention on HbA1c, medication adherence and quality of life: A randomised controlled study

Malaysia is situated in Western Pacific region which bears 36.17% of total diabetes mellitus population. Pharmacist led diabetes interventions have been shown to improve the clinical outcomes amongst diabetes patients in various parts of the world. Despite high prevalence of disease in this region there is a lack of reported intervention outcomes from this region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist led intervention on HbA1c, medication adherence, quality of life and other secondary outcomes amongst type 2 diabetes patients.

METHOD

Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (n = 73) attending endocrine clinic at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) were randomised to either control (n = 36) or intervention group (n = 37) after screening. Patients in the intervention group received an intervention from a pharmacist during the enrolment, after three and six months of the enrolment. Outcome measures such as HbA1c, BMI, lipid profile, Morisky scores and quality of life (QoL) scores were assessed at the enrolment and after 6 months of the study in both groups. Patients in the control group did not undergo intervention or educational module other than the standard care at UKMMC.

RESULTS

HbA1c values reduced significantly from 9.66% to 8.47% (P = 0.001) in the intervention group. However, no significant changes were noted in the control group (9.64-9.26%, P = 0.14). BMI values showed significant reduction in the intervention group (29.34-28.92 kg/m(2); P = 0.03) and lipid profiles were unchanged in both groups. Morisky adherence scores significantly increased from 5.83 to 6.77 (P = 0.02) in the intervention group; however, no significant change was observed in the control group (5.95-5.98, P = 0.85). QoL profiles produced mixed results.

CONCLUSION

This randomised controlled study provides evidence about favourable impact of a pharmacist led diabetes intervention programme on HbA1c, medication adherence and QoL scores amongst type 2 diabetes patients at UKMMC, Malaysia.

A systematic review of interventions addressing adherence to anti-diabetic medications in patients with type 2 diabetes--impact on adherence

Background

The global prevalence of diabetes is increasing. Medications are a recommended strategy to control hyperglycaemia. However, patient adherence can be variable, impacting health outcomes. A range of interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes have focused on improving treatment adherence. This review evaluates the impact of these interventions on adherence to anti-diabetic medications and focuses on the methods and tools used to measure adherence.

Method

Medline, Embase, CINAHL, IPA, PUBmed, and PsychINFO were searched for relevant articles published in 2000–2013, using appropriate search terms.

Results

Fifty two studies addressing adherence to anti-diabetic medications in patients with type 2 diabetes met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Each study was assessed for research design, method(s) used for measuring medication adherence, and impact of intervention on medication adherence and glycaemic control. Fourteen studies were published in 2000–2009 and 38 in 2010–2013. Twenty two interventions led to improvements in adherence to anti-diabetic medications, while only nine improved both medication adherence and glycaemic control. A single strategy could not be identified which would be guaranteed to improve anti-diabetic medication adherence consistently. Nonetheless, most interventions were successful in influencing one or more of the outcomes assessed, indicating the usefulness of these interventions under certain circumstances. Self-report, particularly the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities questionnaire was the most commonly used tool to assess medication adherence, although other self-report tools were used in more recent studies. Overall, there was a slight increase in the number of studies that employed multiple methods to assess medication adherence in studies conducted after 2008.

Conclusion

The diversity of interventions and adherence measurements prevented a meta-analysis of the impact of interventions on adherence to therapy, highlighting the need for more consistency in methods in the area of adherence research. Whilst effective interventions were identified, it is not possible to conclude on an effective intervention that can be generalised to all patients with type 2 diabetes.

Interventions for enhancing medication adherence

BACKGROUND

People who are prescribed self administered medications typically take only about half their prescribed doses. Efforts to assist patients with adherence to medications might improve the benefits of prescribed medications.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this review is to assess the effects of interventions intended to enhance patient adherence to prescribed medications for medical conditions, on both medication adherence and clinical outcomes.

SEARCH METHODS

We updated searches of The Cochrane Library, including CENTRAL (via http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cochranelibrary/search/), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO (all via Ovid), CINAHL (via EBSCO), and Sociological Abstracts (via ProQuest) on 11 January 2013 with no language restriction. We also reviewed bibliographies in articles on patient adherence, and contacted authors of relevant original and review articles.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included unconfounded RCTs of interventions to improve adherence with prescribed medications, measuring both medication adherence and clinical outcome, with at least 80% follow-up of each group studied and, for long-term treatments, at least six months follow-up for studies with positive findings at earlier time points.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted all data and a third author resolved disagreements. The studies differed widely according to medical condition, patient population, intervention, measures of adherence, and clinical outcomes. Pooling results according to one of these characteristics still leaves highly heterogeneous groups, and we could not justify meta-analysis. Instead, we conducted a qualitative analysis with a focus on the RCTs with the lowest risk of bias for study design and the primary clinical outcome.

MAIN RESULTS

The present update included 109 new RCTs published since the previous update in January 2007, bringing the total number of RCTs to 182; we found five RCTs from the previous update to be ineligible and excluded them. Studies were heterogeneous for patients, medical problems, treatment regimens, adherence interventions, and adherence and clinical outcome measurements, and most had high risk of bias. The main changes in comparison with the previous update include that we now: 1) report a lack of convincing evidence also specifically among the studies with the lowest risk of bias; 2) do not try to classify studies according to intervention type any more, due to the large heterogeneity; 3) make our database available for collaboration on sub-analyses, in acknowledgement of the need to make collective advancement in this difficult field of research. Of all 182 RCTs, 17 had the lowest risk of bias for study design features and their primary clinical outcome, 11 from the present update and six from the previous update. The RCTs at lowest risk of bias generally involved complex interventions with multiple components, trying to overcome barriers to adherence by means of tailored ongoing support from allied health professionals such as pharmacists, who often delivered intense education, counseling (including motivational interviewing or cognitive behavioral therapy by professionals) or daily treatment support (or both), and sometimes additional support from family or peers. Only five of these RCTs reported improvements in both adherence and clinical outcomes, and no common intervention characteristics were apparent. Even the most effective interventions did not lead to large improvements in adherence or clinical outcomes.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Across the body of evidence, effects were inconsistent from study to study, and only a minority of lowest risk of bias RCTs improved both adherence and clinical outcomes. Current methods of improving medication adherence for chronic health problems are mostly complex and not very effective, so that the full benefits of treatment cannot be realized. The research in this field needs advances, including improved design of feasible long-term interventions, objective adherence measures, and sufficient study power to detect improvements in patient-important clinical outcomes. By making our comprehensive database available for sharing we hope to contribute to achieving these advances.

Care plans and care planning in the management of long-term conditions in the UK: a controlled prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

In the UK, the use of care planning and written care plans has been proposed to improve the management of long-term conditions, yet there is limited evidence concerning their uptake and benefits.

AIM

To explore the implementation of care plans and care planning in the UK and associations with the process and outcome of care.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A controlled prospective cohort study among two groups of patients with long-term conditions who were similar in demographic and clinical characteristics, but who were registered with general practices varying in their implementation of care plans and care planning.

METHOD

Implementation of care plans and care planning in general practice was assessed using the 2009-2010 GP Patient Survey, and relationships with patient outcomes (self-management and vitality) were examined using multilevel, mixed effects linear regression modelling.

RESULTS

The study recruited 38 practices and 2439 patients. Practices in the two groups (high and low users of written documents) were similar in structural and population characteristics. Patients in the two groups of practices were similar in demographics and baseline health. Patients did demonstrate significant differences in reported experiences of care planning, although the differences were modest. Very few patients in the cohort reported a written plan that could be confirmed. Analysis of outcomes suggested that most patients show limited change over time in vitality and self-management. Variation in the use of care plans at the practice level was very limited and not related to patient outcomes over time.

CONCLUSION

The use of written care plans in patients with long-term conditions is uncommon and unlikely to explain a substantive amount of variation in the process and outcome of care. More proactive efforts at implementation may be required to provide a rigorous test of the potential of care plans and care planning.

Insulin administration and the impacts of forgetting a dose

PURPOSE

Little is known about unintentional non-adherence associated with forgetting insulin injections and dose amounts. The study objective was to qualitatively examine unintentional insulin dosing and injection irregularities due to forgetting among people with diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

Seven focus group interviews and eight telephone interviews were conducted in Canada, Germany, and China. Participants were required to have diabetes, and to have experienced at least two instances in the previous 3 months of forgetting their insulin injection, forgetting the time/amount taken, or questioning if they had taken their injection. Transcripts were coded thematically, based on a grounded theoretical approach.

RESULTS

Sixty-four patients participated: 34.4 % with type 1 diabetes and 65.6 % with type 2 diabetes. The mean age was 50.1 years (range, 18-72 years). The analysis included six domains: Forgetting, what people forgot; Reasons for forgetting; Realizing forgetting; Corrective actions; Consequences of forgetting; and Feelings about forgetting. Participants reported forgetting both bolus and basal insulin doses and often felt uncertain about whether, when, and how much insulin they had taken. The major reasons for forgetting were disruptions to their daily routine, distraction by social events, minor interruptions, and being busy. Participants employed a wide variety of strategies and corrective actions when they thought they had forgotten, and often worried as a result.

CONCLUSIONS

Forgetting or questioning insulin dosing impacts insulin-taking behavior and contributes to patient uncertainty and worry about their diabetes management. Insulin strategies that assist patients in managing memory-related dosing issues may improve adherence or treatment outcomes.

Improving the adherence of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with pharmacy care: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Oral medication for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus plays an important role in diabetes care and is associated with a high level self-care behavior and self-management. However, poor adherence to diabetes treatment is common which causes severe health complications and increased mortality. Barriers to adherence may consist of complex treatment regimens often along with long-term multi-therapies, side effects due to the medication as well as insufficient, incomprehensible or confusing information or instructions provided by the health care provider. Multidisciplinary approaches can support adherence success and can enable a more effective management of diabetes care. One approach in diabetes care can be the involvement of a pharmacist. The aim was to analyze the effectiveness of adherence-enhancing pharmacist interventions for oral medication in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. The study quality was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

RESULTS

Of 491 hits, six publications were included. Two studies mainly examining educational interventions showed a significant improvement in adherence. Moreover, the quality of the included studies was deficient.

CONCLUSION

Although pharmacist interventions might potentially improve adherence to type 2 diabetes mellitus medication, high-quality studies are needed to assess effectiveness.

A review of advances in collaborative pharmacy practice to improve adherence to standards of care in diabetes management

The prevalence of diabetes in the United States is increasing and so is the need to provide diabetes care. Given the time commitment and complexity of diabetes management, an interdisciplinary approach is recommended. Pharmacists are integral members of the diabetes care team because of their accessibility and expertise in medication management. Pharmacists are receiving specialized training and becoming more involved in direct patient care through collaborative practice opportunities such as medication therapy management and collaborative drug therapy management. These collaborative practice models increase patient access to care and allow pharmacists to optimize drug therapy and provide important education to promote diabetes self-management. Studies show pharmacists practicing in a variety of outpatient environments can reduce HbA1c, LDL and BP as well as improve adherence to recommended American Diabetes Association guidelines (yearly monofilament exams, dilated eye exams, microalbumin screening, etc). Pharmacists working as part of the health care team can ensure optimal diabetes management.

Effective interventions to improve medication adherence in Type 2 diabetes: a systematic review

AIM

Medication adherence is associated with improved outcomes in diabetes. Interventions have been established to help improve medication adherence; however, the most effective interventions in patients with Type 2 diabetes remain unclear. The goal of this study was to distinguish whether interventions were effective and identify areas for future research.

METHODS

Medline was searched for articles published between January 2000 and May 2013, and a reproducible strategy was used. Study eligibility criteria included interventions measuring medication adherence in adults with Type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS

Twenty seven studies met the inclusion criteria and 13 showed a statistically significant change in medication adherence.

CONCLUSION

Heterogeneity of the study designs and measures of adherence made it difficult to identify effective interventions that improved medication adherence. Additionally, medication adherence may not be solely responsible for achieving glycemic control. Researchers must emphasize tailored interventions that optimize management and improve outcomes, and examine the need for clear indicators of medication adherence.

Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of chronic care management for diabetes: investigating heterogeneity in outcomes

PURPOSE

The study aims to support decision making on how best to redesign diabetes care by investigating three potential sources of heterogeneity in effectiveness across trials of diabetes care management.

METHODS

Medline, CINAHL and PsycInfo were searched for systematic reviews and empirical studies focusing on: (1) diabetes mellitus; (2) adult patients; and (3) interventions consisting of at least two components of the chronic care model (CCM). Systematic reviews were analysed descriptively; empirical studies were meta-analysed. Pooled effect measures were estimated using a meta-regression model that incorporated study quality, length of follow-up and number of intervention components as potential predictors of heterogeneity in effects.

RESULTS

Overall, reviews (n = 15) of diabetes care programmes report modest improvements in glycaemic control. Empirical studies (n = 61) show wide-ranging results on HbA1c, systolic blood pressure and guideline adherence. Differences between studies in methodological quality cannot explain this heterogeneity in effects. Variety in length of follow-up can explain (part of) the variability, yet not across all outcomes. Diversity in the number of included intervention components can explain 8-12% of the heterogeneity in effects on HbA1c and systolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcomes of chronic care management for diabetes are generally positive, yet differ considerably across trials. The most promising results are attained in studies with limited follow-up (<1 year) and by programmes including more than two CCM components. These factors can, however, explain only part of the heterogeneity in effectiveness between studies. Other potential sources of heterogeneity should be investigated to ensure implementation of evidence-based improvements in diabetes care.

Pharmacist-physician collaboration for diabetes care: the diabetes initiative program

BACKGROUND

Multiple complications can arise secondary to poor control of glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol in a patient with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of a pharmacist-physician collaboration on attainment of diabetes-related measures of control.

METHODS

This was a prospective, multicenter, cohort study. Patients were enrolled from 7 practice sites throughout Tennessee if they had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, were aged 18 years or older with a life expectancy greater than 1 year, and were English speaking. Pregnant women were excluded. Patients were followed for 12 months following enrollment by informed consent. The pharmacist-physician collaboration method was established prior to study initiation. Primary outcomes included hemoglobin A1c (A1C), number of patients with A1C less than 7%, and percentage of patients with A1C greater than 9%.

RESULTS

Of the 206 patients enrolled, the mean age was 59.73 years, and most were male (59.71%) and white (66.02%). The A1C was reduced by an average of 1.16% (p < 0.0001). The proportion of patients with A1C less than 7% increased from 12.75% at baseline to 36.76% at study conclusion (p = 0.0002). The proportion of patients with A1C greater than 9% decreased from 34.15% to 16.50%, (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacist-physician collaborative management at multiple practice locations and types of setting (eg, private, academic, Veterans Affairs medical center) has a positive impact on glycemic control and diabetes-related health maintenance. This was accomplished without increasing the total number of antihyperglycemic agents prescribed and without an increase in patient-reported episodes of hypoglycemia.

Can community retail pharmacist and diabetes expert support facilitate insulin initiation by family physicians? Results of the AIM@GP randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of external diabetes support provided by diabetes specialists and community retail pharmacists to facilitate insulin-prescribing in family practice.

METHODS

A stratified, parallel group, randomized control study was conducted in 15 sites across Canada. Family physicians received insulin initiation/titration education, a physician-specific 'report card' on the characteristics of their type 2 diabetes (T2DM) population, and a registry of insulin-eligible patients at a workshop. Intervention physicians in addition received: (1) diabetes specialist/educator consultation support (active diabetes specialist/educator consultation support for 2 months [the educator initiated contact every 2 weeks] and passive consultation support for 10 months [family physician initiated as needed]); and (2) community retail pharmacist support (option to refer patients to the pharmacist(s) for a 1-hour insulin-initiation session). The primary outcome was the insulin prescribing rate (IPR) per physician defined as the number of insulin starts of insulin-eligible patients during the 12-month strategy.

RESULTS

Consenting, eligible physicians (n = 151) participated with 15 specialist sites and 107 community pharmacists providing the intervention. Most physicians were male (74%), and had an average of 81 patients with T2DM. Few (9%) routinely initiated patients on insulin. Physicians were randomly allocated to usual care (n = 78) or the intervention (n = 73). Intervention physicians had a mean (SE) IPR of 2.28 (0.27) compared to 2.29 (0.25) for control physicians, with an estimated adjusted RR (95% CI) of 0.99 (0.80 to 1.24), p = 0.96.

CONCLUSIONS

An insulin support program utilizing diabetes experts and community retail pharmacists to enhance insulin prescribing in family practice was not successful. Too few physicians are appropriately intensifying diabetes management through insulin initiation, and aggressive therapeutic treatment is lacking.

Non-adherence in type 2 diabetes: practical considerations for interpreting the literature

The rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes poses a serious threat to human health and the viability of many health care systems around the world. Although several prescription medications can play a vital role in controlling symptoms and preventing complications, non-adherence to these therapies is highly prevalent and has been linked to increases in morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Although a vast array of significant adherence predictors has been identified, the ability to explain or predict non-adherence with known risk-factors remains poor. Further, the definitions, outcomes, and various measures used in the non-adherence literature can be misleading for the unfamiliar reviewer. In this narrative review, a practical overview of important considerations for interpreting adherence endpoints and measures is discussed. Also, an organizational framework is proposed to consider published adherence interventions. This framework may allow for a unique appreciation into areas of limited knowledge and thus highlights targets for future research.