Investigating Sources of Heterogeneity in Randomized Controlled Trials of the Effects of Pharmacist Interventions on Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Managing polypharmacy through medication review tools - pros and cons

Inappropriate polypharmacy is a common occurrence in elderly patients, resulting in increased adverse drug reactions, nonadherence, and increased healthcare costs. Medication review and deprescribing are the primary strategies described in the literature for dealing with problematic polypharmacy. To effectively carry out the medication review, various tools have been developed. These tools can support medication review in a variety of ways. Some tools include a list of medications requiring detailed attention, while others guide medical professionals with principles and algorithms for reviewing and prescribing medicines. A third category of tools focuses on tracking and identifying symptoms that may be due to drug-related problems.

Analysis of factors affecting pharmacists' ability to identify and solve problems

BACKGROUND

Among Japanese pharmacists, there is a gap in their commitment to self-improvement and a possible gap in their ability to identify and solve problems. However, the factors causing this situation have not yet been clarified. This study was conducted to identify factors that influence the abilities of Japanese pharmacists to identify and solve problems, which are skills considered essential for this profession. A prior history of presenting at academic conferences was set as a surrogate outcome to clarify whether having this experience affects the factors.

METHODS

A nationwide internet-based survey was conducted among 300 participating hospitals and 300 community pharmacists. The survey was discontinued when the sample size of each group reached 300. The respondents were categorized into two groups on the basis of their experience of presenting at academic conferences in the survey item "status of self-improvement after employment." Their association with other survey items was determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

The multivariate analysis revealed that 152 (50.7%) hospital pharmacists and 41 (13.7%) community pharmacists had presented at academic conferences. Among the hospital pharmacists, the experience of presenting at academic conferences was significantly associated with the "age 30 s (*references 20 s)," "presence of pharmacists to consult," "experience supervising interns," and "number of types of self-improvement" factors. For the community pharmacists, prior conference presentation experience was significantly associated with "age over 70 s," "highest educational background (doctoral or master's degree)," and "number of types of self-improvement."

CONCLUSION

This pioneering study suggests that having prior experience of presenting at academic conferences as a surrogate outcome of pharmacists' problem-finding and problem-solving skills may be related to the support provided by human environmental factors at the facility, the status of self-improvement, and the highest educational background.

Identifying health outcomes of pharmaceutical clinical services in patients with cancer: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Cancer is a major public health problem that imposes limitations on patients being treated. One of the strategies to improve health outcomes in cancer patients and promote the safety of their treatment is the provision of pharmaceutical clinical services (PCS). However, there is no evidence of health outcomes that are influenced by such services.

OBJECTIVE

Identify the health outcomes influenced by PCS in cancer patients.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed in the following databases: Cochrane Library, LILACS, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, and using the PRISMA Statement In addition to the search, we analyzed the references of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The descriptors used were defined by the MeSH keywords "neoplasms," "pharmacists," and "pharmaceutical services". We analyzed the studies with an observational design published until March 2018 that used PCS and related them with the health outcomes. Two reviewers independently assessed titles, abstracts, and full texts according to the eligibility criteria, and then extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of the studies.

RESULTS

A total of 658 articles were found in the initial search, of which eight met the inclusion criteria. Six studies evaluated clinical outcomes: four assessed adverse reactions, one identified six barriers that prevented patients' adherence to medication and solved three of these barriers, and two evaluated PCS related to drug-related problems (DRP) in identification and resolution. Four studies identified a humanistic outcome: two evaluated the quality of life of patients on cancer treatment associated with improvement of symptoms, two investigated pain, and two performed a patient satisfaction survey on PCS. This systematic review identified only one study with an economic outcome, addressing the reduction of medical expenses related to the treatment of neutropenia that affects cancer patients. Most of the studies showed good methodological quality.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review identified health outcomes associated with PCS in cancer patients: clinical (adverse drug reaction, DRP resolution, adherence, and pain), humanistic (quality of life and satisfaction), and economic outcomes (reduction of treatment costs for cancer).

Clinical and humanistic impact of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus treated judicially

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of studies that assess the effectiveness of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up in the context of the judicialization of insulin analogues.

AIMS

To evaluate the clinical and humanistic impact of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus who receive insulin analogues by judicial decision in a Brazilian municipality.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study of the before-and-after type was carried out through pharmacotherapeutic follow-up. Patients who accepted to participate in the study underwent laboratory tests of glycemic and lipid profile before and after the intervention, and underwent five pharmaceutical consultations. In addition, quality of life and health, knowledge, and skills related to insulin application techniques were analyzed.

RESULTS

28 patients participated in all stages. Of these, most were female (53.6%), with a mean age of 32.8 ± 11.6 years. After the intervention, there was a reduction in blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and increased body mass index. In addition, there was greater knowledge and skills regarding insulin application techniques, improved quality of life, health, greater number of medications used, reduction of pharmacotherapeutic problems, and improvement in eating habits.

CONCLUSION

The pharmacotherapeutic follow-up promoted clinical and humanistic benefits, with improvement in quality of life and health.

Impact of Pharmacists-Led Interventions in Primary Care for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes on HbA1c Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is responsible for an important premature mortality. Pharmacists involved in community-based pharmaceutical care services could help patients with diabetes through education and management as they participate in their regular and long-term care. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between interventions led by pharmacists in the primary care setting and mean change in HbA1c levels. Randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies with a control group were included. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to compare the mean change in HbA1c values between baseline and end of the intervention in each group. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity. Twelve articles were included. The results showed that pharmacist’s interventions significantly reduced HbA1c compared to usual care with an overall SMD of −0.67 (95% CI = [−0.87; −0.48], p < 0.0001). Even if no significant difference between subgroups were found, the reduction of HbA1c seemed more important when baseline HbA1c was ≥8.5%, the intervention occurred monthly, in a primary care center and in countries with a lower human development index. Our results suggest that pharmacists-led interventions in the primary care setting can improve glycemic control for adults with T2D.

Evaluation of home medication review for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by community pharmacists: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Successful diabetes treatment requires commitment and understanding of disease management by the patients.

OBJECTIVE

This trial aimed to evaluate the programme effectiveness of home medication review by community pharmacists (HMR-CP) in optimising diabetes care and reducing medication wastage.

METHODS

A randomised controlled trial was conducted on 166 patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) who were randomly assigned to the intervention or control groups. The intervention group received HMR-CP at 0-month, 3-month, and 6-month. The primary outcome was haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) while clinical outcomes, anthropometric data, and humanistic outcomes were the secondary outcomes. For the intervention group, drug-related problems (DRP) were classified according to the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe Foundation (PCNE). Medication adherence was determined based on the Pill Counting Adherence Ratio (PCAR). The cost of medication wastage was calculated based on the total missed dose by the T2DM patients multiplied by the cost of medication. General linear model and generalised estimating equations were used to compare data across the different time-points within and between the groups, respectively.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in the demographic and anthropometric data at baseline between the two groups except for fasting blood glucose (FBG). There was a significant reduction in the HbA1c (-0.91%) and FBG (-1.62mmol/L) over the study period (p<0.05). A similar observation was noted in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and total cholesterol (TC) but not in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and anthropometric parameters. Both utility value and Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test (MDKT) scores increased significantly over time. As for the intervention group, significant changes in PCAR (p<0.001) and the number of DRP (p<0.001) were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

HMR-CP significantly improved the glycaemic control, QoL, medication adherence, and knowledge of T2DM patients as well as reduced the number of DRP and cost of medication wastage. However, the impact of HMR-CP on certain clinical and anthropometric parameters remains inconclusive and further investigation is warranted.

Community pharmacists on the frontline in the chronic disease management: The need for primary healthcare policy reforms in low and middle income countries

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), over 12 million people die yearly from chronic diseases and this number is expected to increase if concerted actions are not taken. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the roles and impact of community pharmacists in chronic disease management support and the need for policymakers in LMICs to reposition community pharmacists appropriately for this extended role. Recent findings have shown that community pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers to the members of the community. Published evidence have demonstrated that community pharmacists' interventions in chronic diseases significantly improve economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes. However, they are not officially recognized as primary healthcare providers in LMICs. Therefore, there is need for policy reforms that will encourage strategic use of the clinical skills of community pharmacists as part of the primary healthcare team in LMICs.

Association of pharmacist counseling with adherence, 30-day readmission, and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

OBJECTIVE(S)

To determine the association of pharmacist medication counseling with medication adherence, 30-day hospital readmission, and mortality.

METHODS

The initial search identified 21,590 citations. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 62 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (49 for the meta-analysis) were included in the final analysis. Data were pooled using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

The participants in most of the studies were older patients with chronic diseases who, therefore, were taking many drugs. The overall methodologic quality of evidence ranged from low to very low. Pharmacist medication counseling versus no such counseling was associated with a statistically significant 30% increase in relative risk (RR) for medication adherence, a 24% RR reduction in 30-day hospital readmission (number needed to treat = 4.2), and a 30% RR reduction in emergency department visits. RR reductions for primary care visits and mortality were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The evidence supports pharmacist medication counseling to increase medication adherence and to reduce 30-day hospital readmissions and emergency department visits. However, higher-quality RCT studies are needed to confirm or refute these findings.

Role of pharmacist during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Since the start of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in December 2019, pharmacists worldwide are playing a key role adopting innovative strategies to minimize the adverse impact of the pandemic.

OBJECTIVES

To identify and describe core services provided by the pharmacist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and LILACS for studies published between December 1st, 2019 and May 20th, 2020 without language restriction. Studies that reported services provided by pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic were included. Two independent authors performed study selection and data extraction with a consensus process. The pharmacist's intervention identified in the included studies were described based on key domains in the DEPICT v.2.

RESULTS

A total of 1189 records were identified, of which 11 studies fully met the eligibility criteria. Most of them were conducted in the United States of America (n = 4) and China (n = 4). The most common type of publication were letters (n = 4) describing the workplace of the pharmacist in hospitals (n = 8). These findings showed the different roles of pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as disease prevention and infection control, adequate storage and drug supply, patient care and support for healthcare professionals. Pharmacists' interventions were mostly conducted for healthcare professionals and patients (n = 7), through one-to-one contact (n = 11), telephone (n = 6) or video conference (n = 5). The pharmacists' main responsibility was to provide drug information for healthcare professionals (n = 7) as well as patient counseling (n = 8).

CONCLUSIONS

A reasonable number of studies that described the role of the pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic were found. All studies reported actions taken by pharmacists, although without providing a satisfactory description. Thus, future research with more detailed description as well as an evaluation of the impact of pharmacist intervention is needed in order to guide future actions in this and/or other pandemic.

Curcumin and curcumin-loaded nanoparticles: antipathogenic and antiparasitic activities

Introduction: Curcumin is an important bioactive compound present in Curcuma longa, and is well known for its bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiparasitic and antioxidant activity. The use of curcumin is limited owing to its poor solubility in water, fast degradation, and low bioavailability. This problem can be solved by using nano-curcumin, which is soluble in water and enhances its activity against various microbial pathogens and parasites.Areas covered: We have reviewed curcumin, curcumin-loaded nanoparticles and their activities against various pathogenic microbes (antifungal, antiviral and antiprotozoal) and parasites, as curcumin has already demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. It has also inhibited biofilm formation by various bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antimicrobial activity of curcumin can be increased in the presence of light radiation due to its photo-excitation. Further, it has been found that the activity of curcumin nanoparticles is enhanced when used in combination with antibiotics. Finally, we discussed the toxicity and safety issues of curcumin.Expert opinion: Since many microbial pathogens have developed resistance to antibiotics, the combination of curcumin with different nanoparticles will prove to be a boon for their treatment. Moreover, curcumin and curcumin-loaded nanoparticles can also be used against various parasites.

Pharmaceutical care-based interventions in type 2 diabetes mellitus : a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Objective

To investigate the impact of pharmaceutical care-based interventions on type 2 diabetes mellitus .

Methods

PubMed^®, Cochrane and Web of Science data bases were searched for randomized controlled clinical trials. Studies evaluating pharmaceutical care-based interventions in type 2 diabetes mellitus published between 2012 and 2017 were included. Glycated hemoglobin was defined as the primary endpoint; blood pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol as secondary endpoints. The random effects model was used in meta-analysis.

Results

Fifteen trials involving 2,325 participants were included. Meta-analysis revealed considerable heterogeneity (I²>97%; p<0.001), reduction in glycated hemoglobin (-1.07%; 95%CI: -1.32; -0.83; p<0.001), glucose (-29.91mg/dL; 95%CI: -43.2; -16.6; p<0.001), triglyceride (19.8mg/dL; 95%CI: -36.6; -3.04; p=0.021), systolic blood pressure (-4.65mmHg; 95%CI: -8.9; -0.4; p=0.032) levels, and increased HDL levels (4.43mg/dL; 95%CI: 0.16; 8.70; p=0.042).

Conclusion

Pharmaceutical care-based clincal and education interventions have significant impact on type 2 diabetes mellitus . The tools Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale may be useful to monitor patients.

Impact of community pharmacist-led interventions in chronic disease management on clinical, utilization, and economic outcomes: An umbrella review

BACKGROUND

Chronic disease represents a significant burden to the United States (US) health care system, with approximately 50% of all adults in the US having one or more chronic disease conditions. Pharmacist-led chronic disease management interventions are of special interest since 80% of medical treatments involve the use of prescription drugs. Moreover, community pharmacists are among the most accessible health care professionals to provide care for populations with chronic diseases. The impact of care provided by community pharmacists isn't well defined, with interventions taking on diverse forms with varied effects on outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this review is to summarize evidence from secondary literature on community pharmacist-led chronic disease management interventions and the impact on clinical, utilization, and economic outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and narrative reviews using MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE.com and Cochrane Library databases published between January 1, 2007 and October 17, 2017. The following data were extracted: citation details, review type, number of primary studies included, disease state, description of the intervention, outcomes assessed, and results.

RESULTS

Our search strategy retrieved 2296 titles and abstracts of which 15 references met our inclusion criteria. Selected articles covered 7 main diseases -diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, heart failure, hyperlipidemia, and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Community pharmacist-led interventions mostly consisted of patient consultations and education. In diabetes, interventions achieved significant reductions in hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Reviews also reported favorable reductions in blood pressure, improved medication adherence and reduced readmission rates in patients with heart failure, improved lung function in patients with respiratory conditions, and increased medication adherence in those with HIV/AIDs. Literature reporting economic and utilization outcomes were limited and mostly focused on pharmacy interventions in diabetes. In some cases, community pharmacy services demonstrated a decrease in medical and health care costs in patients with diabetes.

CONCLUSION

We found that community pharmacists can improve clinical outcomes in a wide array of chronic diseases, including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. More robust studies are needed to further assess the impact of specific interventions on economic and utilization outcomes.

Compared benefits of educational programs dedicated to diabetic patients with or without community pharmacist involvement

Background:

International guidelines on diabetes control strongly encourage the setting-up of therapeutic educational programs (TEP). However, more than half of the patients fail to control their diabetes a few months post-TEP because of a lack of regular follow-up by medical professionals. The DIAB-CH is a TEP associated with the follow-up of diabetic patients by the community pharmacist.

Aim:

To compare the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body mass index (BMI) in diabetic patients of Control (neither TEP-H nor community pharmacist intervention), TEP-H (TEP in hospital only) and DIAB-CH (TEP-H plus community pharmacist follow-up) groups.

Methods:

A comparative cohort study design was applied. Patients included in the TEP-H from July 2017 to December 2017 were enrolled in the DIAB-CH group. The TEP-H session was conducted by a multidisciplinary team composed of two diabetologists, two dieticians and seven nurses. The HbA1c level and the BMI (when over 30 kg/m2at M0) of patients in Control (n= 20), TEP-H (n= 20) and DIAB-CH (n= 20) groups were collected at M0, M0 + 6 and M0 + 12 months. First, HbA1c and BMI were compared between M0, M6 and M12 in the three groups with the Friedman test, followed by the Benjamini-Hochberg post-test. Secondly, the HbA1c and BMI of the three groups were compared at M0, M6 and M12 using the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Findings:

While no difference in HbA1c was measured between M0, M6 and M12 in the Control group, Hb1Ac was significantly reduced in both TEP-H and DIAB-CH groups between M0 and M6 (P= 0.0072 andP= 0.0034, respectively), and between M0 and M12 only in the DIAB-CH group (P= 0.0027). In addition, a significant decrease in the difference between the measured HbA1c and the target assigned by diabetologists was observed between M0 and M6 in both TEP-H and DIAB-CH groups (P= 0.0072 andP= 0.0044, respectively) but only for the patients of the DIAB-CH group between M0 and M12 (P= 0.0044). No significant difference (P> 0.05) in BMI between the groups was observed.

Conclusion:

The long-lasting benefit on glycemic control of multidisciplinary group sessions associated with community pharmacist-led educational interventions on self-care for diabetic patients was demonstrated in the present study. There is thus evidence pointing to the effectiveness of a community/hospital care collaboration of professionals on diabetes control in primary care.

Impact of an Advanced Practice Pharmacist Type 2 Diabetes Management Program: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of an Advanced Practice Pharmacist (APh) on lowering hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes within a patient centered medical home (PCMH) and to classify the types of therapeutic decisions made by the APh.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study using data from electronic health records. The study evaluated a partnership between Chapman University School of Pharmacy and Providence St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare that provided diabetes management by an Advanced Practice Pharmacist in a PCMH under a collaborative practice agreement. Change in the HbA1c was the primary endpoint assessed in this study. The type of therapeutic decisions made by the APh were also evaluated. Descriptive analysis and Wilcoxon signed ranktest were used to analyze data.

RESULTS

The study included 35 patients with diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus managed by an APh from May 2017 to December 2017. Most of the patients were 60-79 years old (68.5%), 45.7% were female, and 45.7% were of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. The average HbA1cwas 8.8%±1.4% (range=6.0%-12.4%) and 7.5%±1.4% (range=5.5%-12.4%) at the initial and final APh visit, respectively (p<0.0001). Therapeutic decisions made by the APh included drug dose increase (35.5% of visits), drug added (16.4%), drug dose decrease (6.4%), drug switch (5.5%), and drug discontinuation (1.8%).

CONCLUSION

The Advanced Practice Pharmacist's interventions had a significant positive impact on lowering HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a PCMH. The most common therapeutic decisions made by the APh included drug dose increase and adding a new drug.

Reprint of: Blood Sugar Regulation for Cardiovascular Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: JACC Health Promotion Series

The primary objective of this study was to analyze the most up-to-date evidence regarding whether and how blood sugar regulation influences cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention by carrying out an umbrella review. Three separate, systematic literature searches identified 2,343 papers in total. Overall, 44 studies were included for data extraction and analysis. The included systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2017, were of good to very good quality (median Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire score = 17). Identified evidence suggests that cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention services should consider regulation of blood glucose as a key target for intervention. Furthermore, the recommendations for effective intervention and service development/training described here for prevention of CVD should be adopted into evidence-based practice guidelines. Multidisciplinary teams should be formed to deliver multicomponent interventions in community-based settings. There may be substantial opportunities for integrating CVD and diabetes prevention services.

Blood Sugar Regulation for Cardiovascular Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: JACC Health Promotion Series

The primary objective of this study was to analyze the most up-to-date evidence regarding whether and how blood sugar regulation influences cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention by carrying out an umbrella review. Three separate, systematic literature searches identified 2,343 papers in total. Overall, 44 studies were included for data extraction and analysis. The included systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2017, were of good to very good quality (median Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire score = 17). Identified evidence suggests that cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention services should consider regulation of blood glucose as a key target for intervention. Furthermore, the recommendations for effective intervention and service development/training described here for prevention of CVD should be adopted into evidence-based practice guidelines. Multidisciplinary teams should be formed to deliver multicomponent interventions in community-based settings. There may be substantial opportunities for integrating CVD and diabetes prevention services.

Physicians' and Pharmacists' Clinical Considerations for Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The IMPLICA2 Study

BACKGROUND

Management of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is complex due to their age-related conditions. Several clinical guidelines provide specific recommendations for management of these patients but little is known about their implementation in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE

To describe physician and community pharmacist perceptions and routine clinical practice in the management of elderly T2DM patients.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study.

RESULTS

A total of 993 physicians and 999 community pharmacists completed the questionnaire. More physicians than pharmacists agreed on the need to establish more flexible HbA1c targets for elderly (79.4% vs. 30.6%; p < 0.001) and frail (92.6% vs. 31.4%; p < 0.001) patients than for the general diabetic population. HbA1c targets < 7.5% for elderly patients and < 8.5% for frail patients (as recommended by the principle guidelines) were set by 38.9% and 28.7% of physicians, respectively. Furthermore, 62.8% of physicians stated they follow guideline recommendations but, based on their prescription decisions for hypothetical patients, less than 50% were aligned with them. In addition, 73.1% of physicians monitor treatment adherence, mainly by using dispensing control (59.1%). Specific nutritional approaches for elderly patients are provided by 62.9% of physicians and 56.0% of pharmacists, whilst 57.4% and 21.7%, respectively, deliver specific physical exercise programs.

CONCLUSIONS

Low adherence to guideline recommendations (i.e. setting more stringent HbA1c targets or delaying treatment intensification) may lead to suboptimal glycaemic control in elderly patients. The standardization of processes, extensive monitoring of patient treatment adherence and providing advice regarding specific personal lifestyle habits may improve the management of elderly T2DM patients.

Impact of clinical pharmacy specialists on glycemic control in veterans with type 2 diabetes

Purpose

The results of a study to determine the impact that Patient Aligned Care Team clinical pharmacy specialists (CPSs) have in improving glycemic control among veterans with type 2 diabetes are reported.

Methods

Reductions in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values in diabetic patients are associated with improved outcomes related to vascular complications. Current diabetes management strategies at the Cincinnati Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) involve a multidisciplinary approach that includes visits with a CPS by veterans referred by a primary care provider. A retrospective chart review-based study of veterans who received CPS care for diabetes management was conducted. The primary outcome was HbA1c reduction after up to 18 months of CPS care; subgroup analyses by type of clinic visit (face-to-face versus telephone), age group, Care Assessment Need (CAN) Score, and number of visits within an 18-month time frame were performed.

Results

There was a 2.2% absolute reduction in the mean HbA1c value among veterans receiving CPS care for up to 18 months. There was no statistically significant difference in absolute HbA1c reduction by type of clinic visit. The greatest absolute HbA1c reduction was observed in the following subgroups: 60- to 69-year-old veterans, veterans with a CAN score of ≥90, and veterans who had 5 or more CPS visits.

Conclusion

CPSs at the Cincinnati VAMC significantly reduced the HbA1c of uncontrolled, complex diabetic veterans. The reduction in HbA1c was greatest in patients who had more than 5 encounters with a CPS over the 18-month data collection period.

Structured tool to improve clinical outcomes of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Reviewing pharmacist diabetes intervention studies revealed a lack of structured process in providing diabetes care, leading to varied results from increased to minimal improvements. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Simpler tool, a structured clinical guidelines tool, in the delivery of diabetes care. The primary outcome was significant improvement in HbA1c. Secondary outcomes were improved lipid profiles and blood pressure (BP).

METHODS

A 6-month parallel multicenter two-arm, single-blind randomized controlled trial involving 14 pharmacists at seven primary care clinics was conducted in Johor, Malaysia. Pharmacists without prior specialized diabetes training were trained to use the tool. Patients were randomized within each center to either Simpler care (SC), receiving care from pharmacists who used the tool (n =55), or usual care (UC), receiving usual care and dispensing services (n = 69).

RESULTS

Compared with UC, SC significantly reduced HbA1c (mean reduction 1.59% [95% confidence interval {CI} -2.2, -0.9] vs 0.25% [95% CI -0.62, 0.11], respectively; P ≤ 0.001), and significantly improved systolic BP (-6.28 mmHg [95% CI -10.5, 2.0] vs 0.26 mmHg [95% CI -3.74, 0.43], respectively; P = 0.005). A significantly higher proportion of patients in the SC than UC arm reached the Malaysian guideline treatment goals for HbA1c (14.3% vs 1.5%; P = 0.020), systolic BP (80% vs 42%; P = 0.001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (60.5% vs 40.4%; P = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONS

Using the Simpler tool facilitated the delivery of comprehensive evidence-based diabetes management and significantly improved clinical outcomes. The Simpler tool supported pharmacists in providing enhanced structured diabetes care.

Perceived barriers to the implementation of clinical pharmacy services in a metropolis in Northeast Brazil

BACKGROUND

CLinical pharmacy services (CPS) are professional services provided by pharmacists, who use their skills and knowledge to take an active role in patient health. These services have expanded in health systems around the world. However, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of factors that may hinder the implementation of CPS in health systems.

OBJECTIVE

To identify pharmacists' and managers' perceptions of barriers regarding the implementation of CPS in some public health units in a metropolis in Northeast Brazil.

METHODS

This is a qualitative study based on focus groups and semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews. Participants were health-system pharmacists and managers, selected based on their direct participation in the implementation process. Focus groups were carried out with the pharmacists, and interviews were carried out with managers. The audio and videos were transcribed verbatim in full, and were independently analyzed using content analysis. This study was approved by the Brazilian Committee of Ethics in Research and all participants signed informed consent forms.

FINDINGS

There were two focus groups and five interviews. The discussions generated 240 minutes of recordings. The health-system pharmacists and managers expressed barriers were allocated into five categories to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the implementation of CPS; these barriers were related to: the local healthcare networks, the healthcare team, the pharmacists, the implementation process, and the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed the perceptions of barriers associated with the participants involved in the implementation of CPS in some public health units in a metropolis in Northeast Brazil. The barriers reflect the challenges to be overcome in the CPS implementation process in the health systems.

Pharmacist-led discharge medication counselling: A scoping review

RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES

Discharge medication counselling has produced improved quality of care and health outcomes, especially by reducing medication errors and readmission rates, and improving medication adherence. However, no studies have assembled an evidence-based discharge counselling process for clinical pharmacists. Thus, the present study aims to map the components of the pharmacist-led discharge medication counselling process.

METHODS

We performed a scoping review by searching electronic databases (Pubmed, Scopus, and DOAJ) and conducting a manual search to identify studies published up to July 2017. Studies that addressed pharmacist-led discharge medication counselling, regardless of the population, clinical conditions, and outcomes evaluated, were included.

RESULTS

A total of 1563 studies were retrieved, with 75 matching the inclusion criteria. Thirty-two different components were identified, and the most prevalent were the indication of the medications and adverse drug reactions, which were reported in more than 50% of the studies. The components were reported similarly by studies from the USA and the rest of the world, and over the years. However, 2 differences were identified: the use of a dosage schedule, which was more frequent in studies published in 2011 or before and in studies outside the USA; and the teach-back technique, which was used more frequently in the USA. Poor quality reporting was also observed, especially regarding the duration of the counselling, the number of patients, and the medical condition.

CONCLUSION

Mapping the components of the pharmacist-led discharge counselling studies through a scoping review allowed us to reveal how this service is performed around the world. Wide variability in this process and poor reporting were identified. Future studies are needed to define the core outcome set of this clinical pharmacy service to allow the generation of robust evidence and reproducibility in clinical practice.

Pharmacist-physician collaborative care model for patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes in Brazil: results from a randomized controlled trial

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a pharmacist-physician collaborative care model on clinical outcomes in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and determine characteristics that influence this effect.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a secondary care clinic for 80 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 40-79 years and glycosylated haemoglobin (A1C) level ≥ 7.0%. The intervention group received individual, face-to-face pharmaceutical consultations and remote telephone support after a routine visit. The main measures were clinical outcomes (A1C, blood pressure, LDL cholesterol) and process indicators (medication adherence, medication regimen complexity, use of medicines). Multiple regression models were used to determine the variables that could explain the reduction and individualized control of A1C.

RESULTS

From the initial sample of 80 patients, 73 completed this study. Compared with usual care, patients in the intervention group showed greater reduction in A1C (-0.79 vs. -0.16; P = 0.010); and an increase in the percentage of patients achieving the individualized goal of A1C (25.0% vs. 5.4%; P = 0.020). In addition, there was an increase in the percentage of adherent patients and in the average scores of medication adherence. Participation in the intervention group, higher baseline A1C levels and greater change in medication adherence were all significant predictors of improvement in A1C levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that the collaborative care model proposed is feasible and more effective than the usual care in the reduction and individualized control of A1C levels in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

Long-term Clinical and Cost Outcomes of a Pharmacist-managed Risk Factor Management Clinic in Singapore: An Observational Study

PURPOSE

Few studies have determined the benefits of pharmacist-run clinics within a tertiary institution, and specifically on their capability to improve clinical outcomes as well as reduce the cost of illness. This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of a pharmacist-managed risk factor management clinic (RFMP) in an acute care setting through the comparison of clinical (improvement in glycosylated hemoglobin level) and cost outcomes with patients receiving usual care.

METHODS

This single-center, observational study included patients aged ≥21 years old and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) who received care within the cardiology department of a tertiary institution between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2015. The intervention group comprised patients who attended the RFMP for 3 to 6 months, and the usual-care group comprised patients who received standard cardiologist care. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression were conducted to analyze the clinical and cost outcomes.

FINDINGS

A total of 142 patients with DM (71 patients in the intervention group and 71 patients in the usual-care group) with similar baseline characteristics were included. After adjusting for differences in baseline systolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels, the mean reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin level at 6 months from baseline in the intervention group was significantly lower by 0.78% compared with the usual-care group. Patients in the usual-care group had a significantly higher risk of hospital admissions within the 12 months from baseline compared with the intervention group (odds ratio, 3.84 [95% CI, 1.17-12.57]; P = 0.026). Significantly lower mean annual direct medical costs were also observed in the intervention group (US $8667.03 [$17,416.20] vs US $56,665.02 [$127,250.10]; P = 0.001).

IMPLICATIONS

The pharmacist-managed RFMP exhibited improved clinical outcomes and reduced health care costs compared with usual care within a tertiary institute.

Impact of Diabetes Care by Pharmacists as Part of Health Care Team in Ambulatory Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analyses examining the impact of pharmacist interventions as part of health care teams on diabetes therapeutic outcomes in ambulatory care settings.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Web of Science, Scopus, WHO's Global Health Library, ClinicalTrials.gov , and Google Scholar were searched (1995 to February 2017). Search terms included pharmacist, team, and diabetes.

STUDY SELECTION

Full-text articles published in English with comparative designs, including randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized controlled trials, and pretest-posttest studies evaluating hemoglobin A_1C (A1C), were assessed.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Two reviewers independently screened for study inclusion and extracted data. Quality of the studies was assessed using tools developed based on the framework of the Cochrane Collaboration's recommendations.

DATA SYNTHESIS

A total of 1908 studies were identified from the literature and reference searches; 42 studies were included in the systematic review (n = 10 860) and 35 in the meta-analyses (n = 7417). Mean age ranged from 42 to 73 years, and 8% to 100% were male. The overall standardized mean difference (SMD) for A1C for pharmacist care versus comparison was 0.57 ( P < 0.01), a moderate effect representing a mean difference of 1.1% (95% CI = 0.88-1.27). The effects for systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were between small and moderate (SMD = 0.31 and 0.32; P < 0.01). The heterogeneity was high for all outcomes (>83%), indicating functional differences among the studies. No publication bias was detected.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacists' interventions as part of the patient's health care team improved diabetes therapeutic outcomes, substantiating the important role of pharmacists in team-based diabetes management.

Olive oil in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies and intervention trials

Background/Objectives:

Olive oil (OO) as food is composed mainly of fatty acids and bioactive compounds depending from the extraction method. Both had been discussed as health promoting with still open questions. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to illustrate the impact of this food on type 2 diabetes (T2D) by investigating the association between OO intake and risk of T2D, and the effect of OO intake in the management of T2D.

Subjects/Methods:

Searches were performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library and google scholar. First, we conducted a random effect meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies and trials investigating the association between OO and risk of T2D. Second, a meta-analysis was performed to detect the effects of olive oil on glycemic control in patients with T2D.

Results:

Four cohort studies including 15 784 T2D cases and 29 trials were included in the meta-analysis. The highest OO intake category showed a 16% reduced risk of T2D (RR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.92) compared with the lowest. However, we observed evidence for a nonlinear relationship. In T2D patients OO supplementation resulted in a significantly more pronounced reduction in HbA1c (MD: −0.27% 95% CI: −0.37, −0.17) and fasting plasma glucose (MD: −0.44 mmol l⁻¹; 95% CI −0.66, −0.22) as compared with the control groups.

Conclusions:

This meta-analysis provides evidence that the intake of OO could be beneficial for the prevention and management of T2D. This conclusion regards OO as food, and might not been valid for single components comprising this food.

The role of the pharmacist in the management of type 2 diabetes: current insights and future directions

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease occurring in ever increasing numbers worldwide. It contributes significantly to the cost of health globally; however, its management remains in the most part less than optimal. Patients must be empowered to self-manage their disease, and they do this in partnership with health care professionals. Whilst the traditional role of the pharmacist has been centered around the supply of medicines and patient counseling, there is an evergrowing body of evidence that pharmacists, through a range of extended services, may contribute positively to the clinical and humanistic outcomes of those with diabetes. Further, these services can be delivered cost-effectively. This paper provides a review of the current evidence supporting the role of pharmacists in diabetes care, whilst providing a commentary of the future roles of pharmacists in this area.

The Effectiveness of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Improving Glycaemic Control in Adults with Severe Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

People with severe mental illness (SMI) have reduced life expectancy compared with the general population, which can be explained partly by their increased risk of diabetes. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the clinical effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for improving glycaemic control in people with SMI (PROSPERO registration: CRD42015015558). A systematic literature search was performed on 30/10/2015 to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in adults with SMI, with or without a diagnosis of diabetes that measured fasting blood glucose or glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c). Screening and data extraction were carried out independently by two reviewers. We used random effects meta-analysis to estimate effectiveness, and subgroup analysis and univariate meta-regression to explore heterogeneity. The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool was used to assess risk of bias. We found 54 eligible RCTs in 4,392 adults (40 pharmacological, 13 behavioural, one mixed intervention). Data for meta-analysis were available from 48 RCTs (n = 4052). Both pharmacological (mean difference (MD), -0.11mmol/L; 95% confidence interval (CI), [-0.19, -0.02], p = 0.02, n = 2536) and behavioural interventions (MD, -0.28mmol//L; 95% CI, [-0.43, -0.12], p<0.001, n = 956) were effective in lowering fasting glucose, but not HbA_1c (pharmacological MD, -0.03%; 95% CI, [-0.12, 0.06], p = 0.52, n = 1515; behavioural MD, 0.18%; 95% CI, [-0.07, 0.42], p = 0.16, n = 140) compared with usual care or placebo. In subgroup analysis of pharmacological interventions, metformin and antipsychotic switching strategies improved HbA_1c. Behavioural interventions of longer duration and those including repeated physical activity had greater effects on fasting glucose than those without these characteristics. Baseline levels of fasting glucose explained some of the heterogeneity in behavioural interventions but not in pharmacological interventions. Although the strength of the evidence is limited by inadequate trial design and reporting and significant heterogeneity, there is some evidence that behavioural interventions, antipsychotic switching, and metformin can lead to clinically important improvements in glycaemic measurements in adults with SMI.