IMPACT OF PHARMACIST ASSISTED PATIENT COUNSELING FOR IMPROVING MEDICATION ADHERENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS- AN EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

Medication Adherence to the long course of tuberculosis treatment is a complex, dynamic phenomenon. The assessment of an association between both, HRQOL and medication adherence in TB, would provide valuable information on treatment effectiveness, optimal disease management and health policy making. In Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), the patients usually present themselves with a history of chest symptoms (cough, chest pain and hemoptysis) which further limit the patient’s role in work and social activities. Social stigmatization and negative emotions resulting from the illness could result in a long-term impairment of patient’s psychosocial well-being. This study aimed to assess the impact of pharmacist assisted patient counseling for improving medication adherence and quality of life in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. A prospective-educational interventional study was conducted from September 2016 to April 2017 in various Tuberculosis units across Bangalore. Medication adherence was assessed and measurement of QOL was done using WHO-BREF scale. Of the 164 patients enrolled, there were 2 deaths and 5 drop-outs. Among the 157 patients, 37(23%) were found to be adherent, 20(13%) were at the risk of non-adherence and 100(64%) were found to be non-adherent. There was significant impact of patient counselling in improving the medication adherence(p<0.0001*). QOL scores were also affected in these patients. The worst affected domain was physical domain followed by psychological domain. After the counseling there was a statistically significant improvement in QOL scores (p<0.0001*). Pharmacist assisted patient counseling had a statistically significant impact in improving medication adherence and QOL in pulmonary TB patients.