Pharmacist-Driven Medication Therapy Management: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Abstract

Background: Patients with chronic conditions need medication therapy management (MTM), but studies show that patients are not receiving MTM services. Objective: To describe MTM services received and attitudes of patients at a federally qualified health center and community pharmacy initiative in Southern California. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of patients was administered in an outpatient medical clinic and a community pharmacy, comprising 15 questions regarding demographics, health status, medications, MTM services, and attitudes. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed. Results: Patients (n=55) with chronic conditions completed the survey. The study population skewed toward older patients, and the majority were Hispanic. A total of 29 (52.7%) patients indicated that they would be likely to use an MTM service if available. Responses varied by site with 60% of clinic patients likely to use MTM, versus 40% of pharmacy patients (p=0.091). The likelihood to use a service appeared to positively correlate with agreeing that service would be helpful (Spearman’s r=0.217, p=0.137) and seeing a pharmacist for medication questions (Spearman’s r=0.205, p=0.148). A total of 23 (41.8%) patients who had never heard of MTM services indicated that they would likely use a service while at the clinic. The most common suggested service was reviewing a complete list of medications. Patients highly agree that their medications should be reviewed for problems, and that this should be done by a pharmacist instead of a doctor. Conclusion: Patients with chronic conditions indicated a need for MTM services. These services will require collaboration between community pharmacies and health centers to alleviate patients’ healthcare burdens. As patients age, chronic conditions become prevalent and medication treatment protocols become more complex. As these conditions worsen, patient's medication burden and complexity rise, which can lead to medication therapy issues and decreased quality of care. Non-adherence to these complex medication regimens can occur, and there is a need to assist patients who need help understanding their medications (Arya et al., 2013). Medication classes that are commonly prescribed also differ between adults and elderly populations, and a clear knowledge gap exists for those who were never treated with prior medications before their first appointment (A. Lester et al., 2014).