Efficacy of Educating Visiting Pharmacists Regarding Drug Administration for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Poorly Adhere to Treatment Regimens
2019 Volume 31 Issue 2 Pages 135-144
Details
2019 Volume 31 Issue 2 Pages 135-144
Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis（RA）need to take lifelong oral or injectable medication to alleviate their symptoms and prevent disease progression. However, some patients may not adhere or poorly adhere to treatment and have poor understanding of medication. This study is aimed at determining the effect of educating visiting pharmacists regarding administration of medication for patients with RA who poorly adhere to treatment regimens.
Methods: A prospective analysis was performed by enrolling 19 patients with RA who were treated with different types of medication. SDAI markers of RA disease activity were evaluated just before and after the pharmacist visit.
Results: The results（Mean ± SD）were as follows: age（years）, 74.4 ± 6.1; disease duration（months）, 144.2 ± 114.5; use of biological agents, 42.1%; use of MTX and its dosage（mg/week）, 84.2% and 6.6 ± 2.7; presence of dementia, 2; living alone, 8; Period from the effective date of visiting pharmacists to the examination date（day）, 66.9±20.5. The mean values of SDAI just before and after the pharmacist visit showed improvements; from 7.99 ± 6.88 to 4.39 ± 3.47（p = 0.0352）. All patients reported satisfaction with the overall effectiveness of the care.
Conclusion: Pharmacists visiting patients with poor adherence to RA treatment is useful for improving RA disease activity.
COI: none
