Evaluation of Medicines Use Review in Slovenia (SLOPUZ)

Mitja Kos

Status

Completed

Conditions

Multiple Medication

Adherence, Medication

Medicines Use Review Service

Treatments

Behavioral: medicines use review

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04417400

MZ 0120-321/2016-2

P1-0189 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Medicines Use Review service (PUZ) has been officially introduced in Slovenian pharmacy practice in 2015 and has been offered to pharmacy customers by pharmacist, certified to provide the service. Patients can to talk to a pharmacist and discuss their medicines, how they use it and any issues or question they might have. We designed a study to evaluate how Medicines Use Review (PUZ) work and how it is reaching the set objectives. The objectives of the PUZ service are to address actual patient medicines use and consequently improve medication adherence, identify and solve drug related problems and enhance medication knowledge. Pharmacists, who are certified to provide the service, recognized the patients, who might need the service and invited them to participate in the study. The study consisted of two visits in 12 weeks' time period. Patients, who decided to participate, were randomly allocated in two groups - intervention and control. Both groups were interviewed and fulfilled questionnaires at visit 1 (V1). Afterwards the test group patients received PUZ. After 12 weeks both groups attended the visit 2 (V2), where they were re-interviewed and fulfilled questionnaires again. After the study completion also the patients from control group received PUZ due to ethical reasons.

Enrollment

169 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

at least one prescription medicine for a chronic condition for at least six months
deemed to be suitable for MUR by a pharmacist, certified to provide the MUR service;
ability to communicate in Slovenian; The inclusion of patients was performed in accordance with the SOP MUR, to reflect how patients are generally offered MUR service in Slovenia.

Exclusion criteria

urgent need of MUR (the service delay due to randomization would risk their health);
referred for MUR by a healthcare professional (general practitioner, nurse, etc.);
the patient's carer, rather than the patient themselves, was able to attend the interviews and receive MUR;
previously received MUR or an advanced medication review;
difficulties understanding, communicating or other issues (vision, hearing) that might affect study outcomes.