title: Evaluating the Potential Impact of Pharmacist Counseling on Medication Adherence Using a Simulation Activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of counseling in a simulated medication adherence activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students were randomized into 2 groups: patient medication monograph only (PMMO) and patient medication monograph with counseling (PMMC). Both groups received a fictitious medication and monograph. Additionally, the PMMC group received brief counseling. A multiple-choice, paper-based survey instrument was used to evaluate simulated food-drug interactions, adherence, and perceptions regarding the activity's value and impact on understanding adherence challenges.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-two students participated (PMMC, n=45; and PMMO, n=47). Overall, a significantly higher incidence of simulated food-drug interactions occurred in the PMMO group (30%) vs the PMMC group (22%) (p=0.02). Doses taken without simulated food-drug interactions were comparable: 46.2% (PMCC) vs 41.9% (PMMO) (p=0.19). The average number of missed doses were 3.2 (PMMC) vs 2.8 (PMMO) (p=0.55). Approximately 70% of the students found the activity to be valuable and 89% believed it helped them better understand adherence challenges.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This activity demonstrated the challenges and important role of counseling in medication adherence.
authors.affiliation: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Lucio R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Volino
authors.affiliation: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Rolee Pathak
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Rupal Patel
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mansukhani
authors.affiliation: Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, New York.
authors.forename: Leon E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Cosler
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003376:Counseling; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D018565:Food-Drug Interactions; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*
keywords: adherence; counseling; pharmacy; simulation; student