Can a practice pharmacist improve prescribing safety and reduce costs in polypharmacy patients? A pilot study of an intervention in an Irish general practice setting.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility and cost impact of an intervention involving a practice pharmacist embedded in general practice to improve prescribing safety, deprescribe where appropriate and reduce costs.

Setting

Four-doctor suburban general practice.

Participants

Inclusion criteria: patients receiving 10+ repeat drugs per month.

Exclusion criteria

deceased, <18 years of age, nursing home resident, no longer attending, late-stage life-limiting condition, unsuitable on clinical/capacity grounds. 137 patients were eligible. 78 were recruited as participants, all of whom completed the study.

Intervention

Pharmacist conducting holistic medication reviews in the study group over a 6-month period.

Primary outcome measures

SUBMITTER: O Ciardha D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9150158 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature