title: Patients' general satisfaction with telephone counseling by pharmacists and effects on satisfaction with information and beliefs about medicines: Results from a cluster randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess effects of pharmacists' counseling by telephone on patients' satisfaction with counseling, satisfaction with information and beliefs about medicines for newly prescribed medicines.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cluster randomized trial in Dutch community pharmacies. Patients ≥18 years were included when starting with antidepressants, bisphosphonates, RAS-inhibitors or statins. The intervention comprised counseling by telephone to address barriers to adherent behavior. It was supported by an interview protocol. Controls received usual care. Outcomes were effects on beliefs about medication, satisfaction with information and counseling. Data was collected with a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses of 211 patients in nine pharmacies were analyzed. More intervention arm patients were satisfied with counseling (adj. OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.3, 3.6)). Patients with counseling were significantly more satisfied with information on 4 items, had less concerns and less frequently had a 'skeptical' attitude towards medication (adj. OR 0.5 (0.3-0.9)). Effects on most outcomes were more pronounced in men than in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telephone counseling by pharmacists improved satisfaction with counseling and satisfaction with information on some items. It had a small effect on beliefs about medicines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacists can use counseling by telephone, but more research is needed to find out which patients benefit most.
authors: Department of Pharmacoepidemiology & Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.j.kooij@uu.nl.
authors: Marcel Jan
authors: MJ
authors: Kooy
authors: Department of Pharmacoepidemiology & Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: katjavangeffen@nierstichting.nl.
authors: Erica C G
authors: EC
authors: Van Geffen
authors: Department of Pharmacoepidemiology & Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.r.heerdink@uu.nl.
authors: Eibert R
authors: ER
authors: Heerdink
authors: NIVEL (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research), Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: l.vandijk@nivel.nl.
authors: Liset
authors: L
authors: Van Dijk
authors: Department of Pharmacoepidemiology & Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.l.bouvy@uu.nl.
authors: Marcel L
authors: ML
authors: Bouvy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003376:Counseling; D004164:Diphosphonates; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054539:Medication Therapy Management; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010595:Pharmacists; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D024382:Professional Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine; D013689:Telephone
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: Adherence; Antidepressant; Antilipaemic; Beliefs about medicines; Bisphosphonate; Cluster randomized controlled trial; Compliance; Counseling; Medication Therapy Management; Medication adherence; Medication intake behavior; Pharmacist; RAS-inhibitor; Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale; Telephone