247420 Patient And phaRmacist Telephonic Encounters (PARTE) in an underserved rural asthma patient population: Results of a pilot study

Monday, October 31, 2011: 5:30 PM

Henry N. Young, PhD , School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
S. Nadra Havican, BSPharm, RN, BCPS , Pharmacy, Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc., Marshfield, WI
Betty Chewning, PhD , School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Christine Sorkness, PharmD , School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
Joshua M. Thorpe, PhD, MPH , School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
     
Background: The purpose of this study was to conduct a pilot test of a telepharmacy intervention to improve underserved, rural asthma patients' adherence to prescribed medications and asthma control.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Adult patients with asthma who received their medications from the Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. (a federally qualified health center) 340B mail-order pharmacy were invited to participate. Participants randomized to the intervention received three telephone consultations from pharmacists regarding asthma self-management and medication use over a three month period. The control group received usual pharmacy care. Pre- and post-test surveys were used to assess medication adherence (Morisky Medication Adherence Scale©) and asthma control (Asthma Control Test® - ACT). Wilcoxon signed ranks tests were performed to examine the differences in adherence to controller medications and asthma control pre- and post-test within groups.

Results: Ninety-eight adults were recruited of the 130 patients approached; 83 completed the study (15% dropout), mean age 44.6 (SD=15.8), 77% female and 93% white. The median baseline ACT score was 18 (IQR=6). Wilcoxon signed ranks tests revealed statistically significant improvements in adherence to asthma controller medications (z=2.60, p<.05) and asthma disease control (z=2.11, p<.05) for those receiving the telepharmacy intervention.

Conclusions: This pilot study provides a unique framework for identifying and resolving asthma medication use problems and improving asthma control in underserved, rural patient populations. The intervention is feasible suggesting the design is well suited for a robust study to evaluate its impact in uncontrolled asthma patients.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify plausible methods to provide health care services to vulnerable patient populations. 2. Explain procedures to identify and resolve asthma medication use problems.

Keywords: Asthma, Pharmacists

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present this research because I am the primary investigator responsible for the design and implementation of this project. I also serve as an assistant professor in the Social and Administrative Sciences Division at the University of Wisconsin, School of Pharmacy.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Rural Health: Needs and Initiatives
See more of: Public Health Education and Health Promotion