title: Effectiveness of a pharmacist-led drug counseling on enhancing antihypertensive adherence and blood pressure control: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Adherence to antihypertensive medications represents a crucial success factor for optimal blood pressure (BP) control in clinical practice. This study evaluated whether an additional pharmacist-led medication counseling could achieve better optimal BP control and enhance compliance. In a designated family clinic in a region with similar resident characteristics to Hong Kong, patients taking ≥ one antihypertensive agent with suboptimal compliance were randomly allocated to a brief 3-minute drug advice (control; n = 161) or pharmacist counseling (intervention; n = 113). The two groups were compared by repeated measure ANOVA at 3-months and 6-months with BP control and medication compliance as outcome variables, respectively. The proportions of patients having optimal compliance increased from 0% to 41.1% at 3 months and 61.9% at 6 months (P < 0.001). The proportion of patients having optimal BP control improved from 64.1% at baseline to 74.0% at 3 months and 74.5% at 6 months (P = 0.023). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the changes of BP control and compliance levels. This study implied that even a brief 3-minute drug advice might lead to improved BP levels among patients on antihypertensive medications in general practice, but did not demonstrate additional effects by pharmacist counseling.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. wong_martin@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Martin C S
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Kirin Q L
authors.initials: KQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Harry H X
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Catherine L S
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mandy W M
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: Ken W S
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Gabrielle K Y
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Morisky
authors.forename: Sian M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003376:Counseling; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents