Impact of community pharmacist-led interventions on vitamin D levels and patient quality of life

Abstract

Background

The widespread deficiency of vitamin D is a recognized public health issue. Maintaining adequate levels of this vitamin is associated with a lower risk of bone fractures, and emerging evidence suggests its preventive role in various diseases.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate whether pharmacist-led intervention and follow-up can enhance patient adherence, improve vitamin D levels, and subsequently lead to an increase in perceived quality of life.

Methods

Multicenter quasi-experimental study with nonprobabilistic sampling conducted in 10 community pharmacies. Patients were recruited by pharmacists based on symptoms of vitamin D deficiency or current use of vitamin D supplements. Monthly follow-ups were conducted through electronic messaging. Eight months after enrollment, a follow-up survey was carried out via telephone. Outcome variables included socio-demographic data, vitamin D levels, self-perceived quality of life, and physical activity. Data analysis was conducted with a significance level set at P < 0.05.

Results

Among the 210 patients, the proportion adhering to the correct vitamin D intake significantly increased from 24.1% to 90.6% (P < 0.001) after 8 months. Prior to the intervention, only 12.6% of patients had adequate vitamin D levels, which increased to 60.3% following pharmacist intervention (from 21.69 ± 9.32 to 33.13 ± 14.16 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Additionally, self-perceived quality of life scores improved from 68.73 ± 18.72 to 76.80 ± 18.85, P < 0.001), with 58.5% of patients reporting an improvement in their quality of life.

Conclusion

Pharmacist-led interventions significantly improved patient habits, resulting in increased vitamin D levels. These improvements were associated with a significant increase in patients' perceived quality of life.