Journal of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems
Open Access

Abstract

Clinical and Behavioral Impact of Pharmaceutical Care Services in Community Pharmacies in Puerto Rico

Edna C. Díaz Sierra and Kyle Melin

Background: Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is an area in which pharmacists have the opportunity to provide pharmaceutical care by working directly with the patients and their physicians to optimize the patient’s pharmacological therapy. The objective of this research is to determine the relationship between MTM practices and changes in clinical markers of disease and behavioral attitudes of Puerto Rican patients at community pharmacies. Methods: The study is a retrospective chart review design. A total of thirty-five patients participated in the first encounter, which consisted in an individualized clinic visit following a standardized MTM format. Follow-up was provided as appropriate for clinical evaluation. A trend analysis and paired t-test was planned to assess the impact of MTM interventions on blood pressure, lipid levels, and hemoglobin A1C with respect to baseline measurements. Adherence was assessed by calculating the medication possession ratio for all medication filled from the initial MTM clinic visit to the end of the study period. Results: An average positive trend for clinical markers of de could be observed. Adherence in general improved from an average of MPR of 0.54 to an MPR of 0.63. However, the desired level for adherence was not reached in all patients. Conclusion: Although recruitment was low this study showed an average improvement in clinical markers of disease and adherence of patients receiving MTM services in three community pharmacies in the metropolitan area of Puerto Rico. Due to the lack of statically significant data the results cannot be extrapolated to