Publication:

The impact of a comprehensive clinical pharmacist counseling intervention program on patients with chronic illness in India: a quasi-experimental study

Background Chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes mellitus, respiratory disorders, and cancer continue to be predominant cause to morbidity and mortality globally. Suboptimal adherence to prescribed medication represents a critical obstacle to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes and effective disease management. Objective of the study was to assess the effect of a comprehensive clinical pharmacist counseling intervention program (CPCIP) on medication adherence, knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP), and patient satisfaction among individuals with chronic illnesses in a tertiary care hospital in India.

Methods The quasi-experimental study was conducted with pre and post interventions among patients with chronic diseases at a tertiary care hospital. Clinical pharmacists delivered systematic counseling regarding medication adherence, lifestyle modifications, and disease management strategies. Along with that, the Morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS-8), a validated KAP scale, and satisfaction questionnaires were used before and after the ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌intervention.

Results This study evaluated the CPCIP intervention improved adherence and KAP scores with patient satisfaction, the mean MMAS-8 score significantly increased post intervention from 3.05±1.10 to 5.55±0.95 (p<0.001). The three domains KAP also demonstrated an improvement while patients reported satisfaction level 8.62±0.84 out of 10 scale. There were positive correlations were found among satisfaction, adherence scores, and KAP improvements.

Conclusions The CPCIP effectively enhanced adherence, patient understanding, and satisfaction. Integrating pharmacist-led counseling within routine healthcare services can supports effective chronic disease management, reduce complications, and healthcare burden while improving overall healthcare outcomes in patients with chronic illness in India.