Optimizing pharmacists' effectiveness as medication therapy managers through a segmentation approach.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether older persons could be segmented into meaningful subgroups that shared similar patterns in terms of self-assessments of medication-related knowledge, beliefs, and perceived abilities.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of data previously collected from a cross-sectional, descriptive study.


METHODS
United States.


METHODS
A total of 500 community-dwelling older persons, 65 years and older, using at least one prescription medication.


METHODS
Mail survey.


METHODS
Older persons' self-assessments of medication-related knowledge, beliefs, and perceived abilities, as well as perceptions of pharmacist-patient relationships.


RESULTS
The data set contained usable responses from 330 respondents out of 496 surveys presumably delivered (66.5%). Cluster analysis revealed three groups of older persons who showed differences in terms of medication-related beliefs and perceived abilities. Older persons in group 1 reported worse health, used the most prescription medications, sought the most advice from pharmacists, and had the lowest perceived abilities. Older persons in group 2 reported good health, took the fewest medications, sought pharmacists' advice least frequently, and had the lowest beliefs and high perceived abilities. Older persons in group 3 reported the best health, had the highest beliefs, high perceived abilities, and the highest perceptions of pharmacist participative behavior, patient-centeredness, relationship quality, and commitment.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacists can use a segmentation approach to target those older persons who are most in need of medication therapy management.
Worley
Marcia M
MM
College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Duluth 55812-3095, USA. worl0016@d.umn.edu
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004358:Drug Therapy; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010595:Pharmacists; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations