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A systematic review of the role of community pharmacies in improving the transition from secondary to primary care

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Hamde Nazar, Professor Adam ToddORCiD, Professor Sarah Slight

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Abstract

© 2015 The British Pharmacological Society. Aim We set out to determine the potential contribution of community pharmacists to improve the transfer of care of patients from secondary to primary care settings. Method We systematically reviewed the literature on interventions that involved community pharmacy post-discharge. We considered all relevant studies, including both randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, irrespective of patient population. Our primary outcome was any impact on patient and medication outcomes, while the secondary outcome was to identify intervention characteristics that influenced all reported outcomes. Results We retrieved 14 studies that met our inclusion criteria. There were four studies reporting outcomes relating to the identification and rectification of medication errors that were significantly improved with community pharmacy involvement. Other patient outcomes such as medication adherence and clinical control were not unanimously positively or negatively influenced via the inclusion of community pharmacy in a transfer of care post-discharge intervention. Some inconsistencies in implementation and process evaluation of interventions were found across the reviewed studies. This limited the accuracy with which true impact could be considered. Conclusions There is evidence that interventions including a community pharmacist can improve drug related problems after discharge. However, impact on other outcomes is not consistent. Further studies are required which include process evaluations to describe fully the context of the intervention so as to determine better any influencing factors. Also applying more stringent controls and closer adherence to protocols in both intervention and control groups would allow clearer correlations to be made between the intervention and the outcomes.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Nazar H, Nazar Z, Portlock J, Todd A, Slight SP

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Year: 2015

Volume: 80

Issue: 5

Pages: 936-948

Print publication date: 28/10/2015

Online publication date: 03/10/2015

Acceptance date: 05/07/2015

ISSN (print): 0306-5251

ISSN (electronic): 1365-2125

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12718

DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12718

PubMed id: 26149372

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