title: Convergence of tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus: time to individualise pharmaceutical care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility of providing a pharmacist-led pharmaceutical care service to patients with tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. Methods Action research methodology was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmaceutical care issues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients was 15% (53/352). Out of 53 patients identified, 35 participated in the study. Patients' ages ranged between 29 and 73 years (mean of 52 ± 10 years). The male: female ratio was 1.7:1. Pharmaceutical care issues identified by pharmacists were nonadherence, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, adverse drug reactions and individual patient's medication related problems. Pharmacists were able to intervene and resolve some of the pharmaceutical care issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacists played an important role in integrating the provision of care for tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus by providing individualised pharmaceutical care management. There still remains a need to address logistic barriers that impinged on the ability to conduct the pharmaceutical care service to its full potential.
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom. paxsg2@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Shubashini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gnanasan
authors.forename: Kang Nee
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: Kok Thong
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Salmiah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohd Ali
authors.forename: Abdul Razak
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Muttalif
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D024382:Professional Role; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology