Use of Medication Reconciliation in Addition to Drug Use Counseling for Diabetic Out-patients

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate medication reconciliation process with pharmacistcounseling in diabetic patients in Nopparat Rajathanee hospital in 3aspects including economic, patient and clinical outcomes. Methods: Inthis descriptive and analytical prospective study, medication reconciliationwas used to determine medication history, drug related problems, costs ofreturned medications, as well as recommendation for problem resolution.Data were collected from 3 visits. Results: Of the 200 patient included,most patients received medications solely from Nopparat Rajathaneehospital. Medication reconciliation helped reduce medication cost in all 3visits with a total saving of 151,963.60 baht. A total of 397 drug relatedproblems were found in 3 visited; 304, 47 and 46 in visits 1, 2 and 3respectively. This reduction was statistically significant (P < 0.001). FBSlevels decreased significantly (from 175.00 ± 76.58 mg/dl in visit 1, to164.21 ± 62.15 and 143.02 ± 44.68 mg/dl in visits 2 and 3 respectively, P =0.006). HbA1C levels also decreased from 8.82 ± 0.62% in visit 1 to 7.32 ±0.75 and 7.30 ± 0.71%, in visits 2 and 3 respectively. A decrease from visit1 to 3 was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Medicationreconciliation in addition to pharmacy counseling results in a decrease indrug related problem, cost saving and improved clinical outcomes indiabetic patients.Keywords: medication reconciliation, diabetes mellitus, out-patient, fastingblood sugar, HbA1C