Page 235 - Hospital Authority Convention 2017

Service Enhancement Presentations

F8.6 Young HA Investigators Presentations 14:30 Room 421

The Impact of Structured Pharmacist Counseling on Adherence and Knowledge of Patients on Oral
Chemotherapy
Lam HK, So KH, Chan MC, Lee SC HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2017
Department of Pharmacy, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong

Introduction
Overseas studies had revealed the issue of non-adherence among patients on oral chemotherapy which could lead to life-
threatening outcome. These studies further indicated the positive impact of structured and regular pharmacist counseling
service on patient’s adherence to oral chemotherapies.

Objectives
To evaluate the impact of structured pharmacist counseling on adherence, knowledge and pharmaceutical care of patients
newly initiated with oral chemotherapy.
Methodology
This study is a prospective, single-centre randomised control trial. Subjects in the intervention group received structured
counseling sessions provided by pharmacist before each treatment cycle. The control group received standard single
pharmacist counselling session before the first treatment cycle. A modified version of Morisky Medication Adherence
Scales – 4 (MMAS-4) was used to evaluate the adherence of subjects to their oral chemotherapy. Any positive answer to
the four questions in modified MMAS-4 was considered as non-adherence. Furthermore, phone number for emergency in
pharmacist consultation service was offered to all subjects if needed.
Results
98 patients were included in the study. Three months after the initiation of oral chemotherapy, the non-adherence rate of
intervention group and control group were found to be 8.2% and 38.8% respectively (p=0.018). A total of 68 calls were
received via the phone number for emergency in pharmacist consultation service and 31.0% of subjects were referred to
doctors for further management. The total number of visits to Accident and Emergency Department was 16 in the control
group and eight in the intervention group (p=0.015). Regarding patient’s knowledge on drug treatment, the percentage of
subjects possessing knowledge on vomited dose management (intervention group 71.4% vs control group 6.1%, p<0.0001)
and missed dose management (intervention group 59.2% vs control group 18.4%, p<0.0001) was found to be significantly
improved with the intervention. Wednesday, 17 May

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