Physician acceptance of pharmacotherapy recommendations made by pharmacy students in a rural pharmacy-based diabetes care and education clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To assess outcomes from a rural, community pharmacy-based diabetes care and education program involving collaboration between local pharmacists and physicians, fourth-year pharmacy students, and University of Colorado Denver School of Pharmacy faculty members.


METHODS
Fourth-year pharmacy students provided education and testing (hemoglobin A1c, blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipid profiles) to diabetes patients, once a month for 6 months. Clinical notes with medication recommendations were faxed to each patient's physician following each visit.


RESULTS
Twelve pharmacy students made 533 recommendations to 29 physicians for 52 patients over 18 months. Overall, 32% of the recommendations were accepted based on subsequent medication orders and patient reports. Three of the physicians accepted 50%-60% of the recommendations they received while 4 did not accept any recommendations.


CONCLUSIONS
Physician acceptance of pharmacy students' medication recommendations for patients attending a rural community pharmacy-based diabetes management clinic varied. Further study is needed to determine the reasons for this.
McCollum
Marianne
M
School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. marianne.mccollum@ucdenver.edu
Nuffer
Wesley
W
Ellis
Samuel L
SL
Turner
Christopher J
CJ
D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000592:standards*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*