Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF PHARMACIST MEDIATED PATIENT COUNSELLING ON MEDICATION ADHERENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Dr. Cheppalli Vani*, Dr. V. G. Chandra Lekha, P. Neelaphar and Dr. C. Gopinath

ABSTRACT

The study is conducted to assess patient medication adherence and knowledge in hypertensive patients by counseling. This is a prospective observational study carried out at out-patient department, RIMS Kadapa for a period of 6 months. The study was approved by institutional ethical committee. Overall 100 hypertensive patients were enrolled with demographic details, assessing medication adherence by using morisky’s scale and self prepared knowledge questionnaires were taken before and after counseling by clinical pharmacist. The major reasons of Non-adherence were Forgetfulness (24%) by patient to take medications on time or Missed doses (15%), Side effects of medicine (9%) and Feeling well (33%), Finance (11%) was also a problem for paying patients who have to make up front payment to re-fill their medications. Hence a well structured hypertension patient counseling by clinical pharmacist will result in improved medication adherence and increases hypertension knowledge.

Keywords: Compliance, Medication adherence, Hypertension knowledge, Patient counseling, Factors of non-adherence.