AN IMPACT OF CLINICAL PHARMACIST IN IMPROVING MEDICATION ADHERENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS IN RURAL AREA

The patient-centered medication management program by the clinical pharmacist has been characterized as a model of health care delivery that improves the patient care. These services are intended to be continuous, team-based, and actively involve patients and their care givers. Despite the critical importance of medication, nonadherence to prescribed drug treatments has been recognized as a problem worldwide and may be the most challenging aspect of treating the patients. Nonadherence to medication has a negative impact on the course of illness resulting in relapse, rehospitalization, longer time to remission, and attempted suicide and also contribute to the already high costs of the disease to healthcare systems. The study aimed to assess the impact of clinical pharmacists in improving medication adherence and quality of life of patients in rural area. A prospective study was conducted in the community setting for duration of 6 months and subjects were recruited based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Morisky 8-Item Medication Adherence scale was used to assess medication adherence of patients & WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used for assessing quality of life of patients. A total of 252 subjects were enrolled and relevant data was collected and assessed. Majority of the subjects were found to be medication non-compliant before counselling and were found to adherent after clinical pharmacists counseling, QOL of patients were also improved. Based on the results obtained this study emphasizes that clinical pharmacists counselling play a crucial role in improving medication adherence and quality of life of patients.