%0 Journal Article
%T Education for arthritis patients: a community pharmacy based pilot project.
%A Petkova VB
%J Pharmacy Practice (Granada)
%D 2009
%I Centro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones Farmaceuticas
%X There are different kinds of arthritis, widely spread among the population, that make them a clinical problem with social, psychological and economic burden. Different education programs have been developed in order to improve patientsĄŻ disease management, medication compliance and from there patientsĄŻ quality of life.Objective: To develop and implement a community pharmacy-based educational program for patients with arthritis. Improvements in pain, medication compliance, decrease in general practitionerĄŻs visits and hospitalizations are expected.Methods: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. The sample consisted of 43 individuals, with different stages of arthritis (aged 15 - 71), attending pharmacies ¨C intervention group; and 43 individuals ¨C control group. A 4-month education was conducted on the following topics: what causes arthritis and what are the factors that can intensify it; pain management and physical activities; self-management and prevention; pharmacotherapy and possible adverse drug reactions. Patient's health-related quality of life was assessed in the beginning and at the end of the survey. Results: Parameters assessed during the four stages of the program were: frequency of severe pain, frequency of general practitionerĄŻs visits, frequency of urgent medical aid calls, compliance with therapy, satisfaction with pharmacy services. Improvement in patientsĄŻ health-related quality of life was observed and also: decrease in the severity of patientsĄŻ pain, decrease in the physicianĄŻs visits, and increase in satisfaction overall care.Conclusions: Positive results from the educational approach in pharmacy conditions were demonstrated. These consequences have a potential to increase arthritis patientĄŻs quality of life.
%K Arthritis
%K Community Pharmacy Services
%K Patient Education as Topic
%K Bulgaria
%U http://www.pharmacypractice.org/vol07/02/088-093.htm