Pharmaceutical care and health outcomes in community settings: a matched pair analysis of perceptions of hypertensive patients versus pharmacists.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to: (1) assess the level of pharmaceutical care delivered by pharmacists, and (2) compare patients' and pharmacists' health related quality of life (HRQOL) assessments for patients receiving antihypertensive therapy as an indicator of the delivery of pharmaceutical care.

Design: An exploratory, cross-sectional study using matched pair survey instruments.

Setting: Columbus, Ohio.

Participants: Patients in a community setting prescribed antihypertensive medication and their pharmacists were selected for study participation.

Interventions: Parallel surveys distributed to patients and their pharmacists.

Main outcome measures: Level of pharmaceutical care delivered by pharmacists, and perceived patient viewpoints on: clinical outcomes (blood pressure control, and side effects due to antihypertensive medication) and humanistic outcomes (overall, emotional and physical HRQOL) by patients and pharmacists.

Results: Analysis of 52 useable matching surveys of pharmacists and patients indicated that nearly all pharmacists counsel patients and two thirds of pharmacists counsel and monitor drug therapy. This is consistent with providing the minimal OBRA 90 requirements. When comparing patient and pharmacist perceived patient clinical as well as humanistic outcomes, a high level of association was reported between the two groups.

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that pharmacists are cognizant of patient clinical and humanistic outcomes and hence, they are in an excellent position to improve patient outcomes by making appropriate drug therapy changes.